Sumac shrubs are autumn showstoppers with high wildlife value.
Sumac shrubs provide intriguing visuals throughout the year, whether growing along roadsides or planted as garden accents.
you could plant it in full sun orpartial shade, but it will grow taller in full sun.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Larger species, especially, may be difficult to control.
Tamp down the soil and water it slowly and deeply.
Mulching around the soil retains soil moisture andsuppresses weeds.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Spacing depends on variety, so consult your plant tag before selecting a site for multiple plants.
Sumac Care Tips
Light
Plant sumac in full sun.
If this plant grows in full sun, its brightly colored foliage may show evidence of bleaching.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Saturated soil may lead to root rot.
After it drains completely, refill it with water again.
Well-draining soil should drain about 1 inch per hour.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Once established, sumac will usually find natural rainfall sufficient.
However, potted sumac will need watering more frequently.
Temperature and Humidity
The cold-hardiness of sumac depends on the variety and its native habitat.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
All sumacs are well-adapted to humid conditions.
Fertilizer
Sumac does not require fertilizer and can even grow in poor soil.
The only exception is potted sumac.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Due to frequent watering, the nutrients wash out and need to be replenished.
Alsocut off any unwanted suckersas soon as they emerge.
The pot should have a capacity of at least 7 gallons and large drainage holes.
Credit: Adam Albright
Insects that feed on sumac include aphids, black scale, and psyllids (plant lice).
How to Propagate Sumac
The easiest way to propagate sumac is cuttings.
Take a 6-inch cutting and dip the cut end inrooting hormone powder.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Insert it about halfway into a 4-inch pot filled with damp potting mix.
Keep the cutting moist in a moderately warm, not hot, location away from intense sunlight.
When you see new growth, roots have formed.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Most varieties display fernlike compound leaves that turn the plants into softly textured landscape accents.
All sumac varieties bloom, although the smaller ones bear insignificant flowers.
Larger varieties make up for the small bloom size by displaying big white clusters ofpetals loved by pollinators.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
After the flowers fade, they form clusters of brightly colored fuzzy red fruit called drupes.
During the rest of the growing season, its deeply dissected foliage gives this large shrub a fernlike appearance.
It grows just 5-7 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide.
The glossy green leaves turn purple-red to orange in autumn.
The shiny green foliage turns bright red-purple in autumn.
It grows 5 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
‘Gro-Low’ Sumac
Rhus aromatica’Gro-Low' makes for a great groundcover.
It grows 2 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
It can become a large shrub or small tree 10-20 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide.
The leaves turn bright shades of red and orange in autumn.
It grows 15 feet tall and wide.
It reaches up to 10 feet tall inland but may remain under 3 feet tall near the coast.
The shrub spreads 10-15 feet wide.
Clumps of pinkish-white flowers develop into reddish-pink fruits.
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhinacolonizes to form agrove of small treesor large shrubs 15-25 feet tall and wide.
It gets its common name from the appearance of bare winter branches.
The forked shoots are covered with hairs, resembling deer antlers in the velvet stage.
Female plants develop panicles of red fruits that persist through winter.
Fall color is excellent.
In autumn, the leaves turn brilliant orange.
The leaves, stems, and berries are all fuzzy.
It grows 8 feet tall and wide.
The poison sumac leaves have smooth edges, whereas those of sumac are toothed.
Sumac grows in colonies, and poison sumac is more often a solitary shrub.
The lifespan of most sumac types rarely exceeds 50 years.
However, the shrub perpetuates itself by spreading via suckers that form new plants.
Although native plants are usually not considered invasive, sumac is problematic because of its tendency to spread aggressively.
If left unchecked, sumac sends up suckers that can form dense colonies, shading out other plants.
Sumac spreads mostly via its roots, and some sumacs also spread via seeds.
Deadhead the spent blooms if self-seeding is a concern.
