If you’ve taken a drive in the countryside lately, you’ve probably seen a striking shrub flaunting yellow, orange and red foliage all on the same bush. Staghorn sumac, named for the velvety appearance of its stunning young branchlets, has a strong, open, spreading growth habit, reaching 15 to 25 feet. It naturalizes easily by both self-seeding and root suckering. Sumac tolerates a wide range of moisture levels and soil types, although it does need to be in a well-drained location. It grows well in full sun to partial shade conditions and flourishes in urban conditions. A true four season shrub, Staghorn sumac features bright green leaves in the spring, greenish-yellow flowers in the summer followed by red berries and stunning fall foliage.
