Staghorn Sumac

Description

Staghorn Sumac is a bold and distinctive native shrub or small tree that adds dramatic texture and brilliant color to the landscape. Its name comes from the fuzzy, velvety texture of its young stems, which resemble the antlers of a stag in velvet. In early to mid-summer, upright clusters of small yellow-green flowers bloom at the branch tips, followed by dense, cone-shaped clusters of crimson-red fruit that persist through winter. Its long, pinnately compound leaves—each with up to 30 leaflets—turn dazzling shades of scarlet, orange, and gold in fall, creating one of the most spectacular autumn displays in the native plant world.

Ecological Value

Rhus typhina is a high-value plant for pollinators and wildlife, offering nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, and beetles, and fruit for more than 30 bird species, including robins, flickers, and grouse. The persistent berries provide an important winter food source when other fruits are scarce. The dense colonies formed by its root suckers offer excellent nesting and cover habitat for birds and small mammals. As a dioecious species, male and female plants occur separately, and both are needed for fruit production. Its extensive root system stabilizes soil and prevents erosion, making it a key species for restoration and slope plantings.

Ideal Growing Conditions

Staghorn Sumac thrives in full sun and dry to medium, well-drained soils, naturally occurring on slopes, prairies, and forest edges. It tolerates sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils and is exceptionally drought-tolerant once established. It also adapts well to disturbed or poor soils, including those with low fertility. This hardy shrub spreads readily by rhizomes, forming colonies that provide long-term cover and habitat. Best growth and fall color occur in open, sunny conditions.

Landscape Uses

Ideal for slopes, prairies, naturalized borders, and restoration plantings, Staghorn Sumac provides striking form, vivid color, and critical habitat value. It pairs beautifully with Little Bluestem, Smooth Aster, and Black-Eyed Susan for a dynamic, sun-loving composition. Its sculptural branching, red fruit clusters, and brilliant fall foliage make it both a visual focal point and an ecological powerhouse. Tough, fast-growing, and remarkably adaptive, Staghorn Sumac is a keystone shrub that brings structure, color, and biodiversity to any sunny, open landscape.

Map Color Key

	Species present in state and native		Species present and not rare
	Species not present in state		Species present and rare

Show full color key