Rhus typhina, commonly called staghorn sumac, is the largest of the
North American sumacs. It is native to woodland edges, roadsides, railroad
embankments and stream/swamp margins from Quebec to Ontario to Minnesota south
to Georgia, Indiana and Iowa. This is an open, spreading shrub (sometimes a
small tree) that typically grows 15-25’ tall. It is particularly noted for the
reddish-brown hairs that cover the young branchlets in somewhat the same way
that velvet covers the horns of a stag (male deer), hence the common name. It
is also noted for its ornamental fruiting clusters and excellent fall foliage
color. Large, compound, odd-pinnate leaves (each to 24” long) are bright green
above during the growing season and glaucous beneath. Leaves turn attractive
shades of yellow/orange/red in autumn. Each leaf has 13-27 toothed,
lanceolate-oblong leaflets (each to 2-5” long). Tiny, greenish-yellow flowers
bloom in terminal cone-shaped panicles in late spring to early summer
(June-July), with male and female flower cones primarily occurring on separate
plants (dioecious). Female flowers produce showy pyramidal fruiting clusters
(to 8” long), with each cluster containing numerous hairy, berry-like drupes
which ripen bright red in autumn, gradually turning dark red as they persist
through much of the winter. Fruit is attractive to wildlife. Easily grown in
average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.
Tolerant of a wide range of soils except for those that are poorly drained.
Generally tolerant of urban conditions.
Growing Instructions
1. Scarify the seeds by nicking or sanding the seed coat.
2. Soak the seeds in water for several hours.
3. Put a mixture of potting soil and sand or perlite into a pot with
drainage holes in the base. The soil should be moist and well-drained.
4. Sow the seeds on the soil.
5. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
6. Water the seeds. Keep the soil moist but not wet.
7. When the plants are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.
Dylan (verified owner) –
Great germination.
Paul (verified owner) –
I would absolutely recommend this seed to anyone looking to grow veggies this year. I decided to do starts this year and just three days after planting
Samuel (verified owner) –
They arrived very fresh and not bruised. They were delicious.
Kai (verified owner) –
These seeds came right up and started producing squash. Can’t ask for more than that.
Hayden (verified owner) –
Awesome product and company