The staghorn sumac is a fast-growing, winter-hardy ornamental, often cultivated for its brilliant autumn foliage and showy fruit. This shrub flowers from May through July, producing terminal patches of small, greenish-white to yellow flowers, after which point it will produce fuzzy, bright-red berries, which ripen from June through September. In winter, this shrub's stout, hairy twigs have often been compared to deer antlers covered in velvet, from which it receives its alternate common name.
The Staghorn Sumac Tree Is Drought-Tolerant
Staghorn Sumac does best in full sun to part shade and typically ranges from U.S.D.A. zones 3 through 8. It can reach up to 30 feet. This tree is drought-tolerant and capable of growing in locations and soil types other plants may not tolerate, including poor and dry soils. Improperly drained soils, however, will negatively impact its growth. Generally, cultivators rarely encounter a few issues with either pests or diseases when raising this shrub.
Staghorn Sumac Helps Control Soil Erosion
Due to its suckering habit, it is best grown in informal and naturalized areas, such as open woodland areas or wood margins, where it can be spread and form colonies. Their complex root systems allow suckering shrubs like this to control soil erosion and are especially effective when massed on slopes.
local Wildlife Love The Staghorn Sumac
It provides unique benefits to local wildlife, as its berries persist from late summer through spring. During the winter, it is a preferred food source for many species, including several varieties of woodland and songbirds. In the spring, its flowers attract honeybees, and these insects can also use materials from the shrubs in construction.
The berries of the staghorn sumac can be harvested and used to prepare a type of pink lemonade, often called "Indian lemonade." In contrast, all parts of this, except its roots, may be used to produce a natural dye.