Rhus, Staghorn Sumac, Velvet Sumac 'Tiger Eyes'
Rhus typhina
Family: | Anacardiaceae (an-a-kard-ee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Rhus (roos) (Info) |
Species: | typhina (ty-FEE-nuh) (Info) |
Cultivar: | Tiger Eyes |
Additional cultivar information: | (PP16185, aka Bailtiger) |
Hybridized | by Jorgensen |
Registered or introduced: | 2004 |

Category:
Shrubs
Trees
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Deciduous
Foliage Color:
Height:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Spacing:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Scarlet (dark red)
Gold (yellow-orange)
Green
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
N/A
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the rootball
Seed Collecting:
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Opelika, Alabama
Livermore, California
Los Altos, California
San Jose, California
San Leandro, California
Tracy, California
Centralia, Illinois
Chadwick, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Saint Charles, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Crown Point, Indiana(2 reports)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Conrad, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Pacific Junction, Iowa
Lawrence, Kansas
Union, Kentucky
Dracut, Massachusetts
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Adrian, Michigan
Ludington, Michigan
Andover, Minnesota
Cannon Falls, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota(2 reports)
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Waite Park, Minnesota
Saint Peters, Missouri
Helena, Montana
Kalispell, Montana
Bellevue, Nebraska
Trenton, New Jersey
Rochester, New York
Wykagyl, New York
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Fargo, North Dakota
Mansfield, Ohio
Enid, Oklahoma
Beaverton, Oregon(12 reports)
Cheshire, Oregon
Clackamas, Oregon
Gold Hill, Oregon
Happy Valley, Oregon
Sunnyside, Oregon
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Webster, South Dakota
Memphis, Tennessee
Montague, Texas
Richmond, Utah
Barre, Vermont
Amelia Court House, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Mc Lean, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia
East Port Orchard, Washington
Langley, Washington
Parkwood, Washington
Port Orchard, Washington
Seattle, Washington(2 reports)
Spokane, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Chilton, Wisconsin
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
Kendall, Wisconsin
Laramie, Wyoming
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On May 2, 2019, fmdehner from Reynoldsburg, OH wrote: can anyone tell me if there's has lost its pretty chartruse color? Mine came back grass green this year, honestly I have no use for more grass green. |
Neutral | On Jul 7, 2015, Memphisgreen from Memphis, TN wrote: I have had Tiger eye planted for 2-3 years in a very sunny spot in the middle of the yard. It is a beautiful focal point for my yard. However, this year I have noticed the lower branches dying off, wilting, turning orange (almost as if it is autumn). The upper branches are vibrant and green but the lower branches continue to die and wilt. I have no clue as to why this is happening. |
Neutral | On Jul 1, 2015, Alice344 from Seattle, WA wrote: I read this post when our landscaper planted this sumac |
Neutral | On Aug 14, 2014, Terri1948 from Yorkshire, No doubt about it, this is a beautiful shrub/tree and the foliage is very attractive. |
Negative | On May 11, 2014, gmary from Union, KY wrote: Planted this last year in an underground pot to try to keep it in check in two different locations. This spring there were sprouts everywhere. The roots climbed out of the pots and spread everywhere. I pulled and pulled roots from everywhere. |
Neutral | On Mar 10, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: With beautiful chartreuse color on a lacy dissected leaf, this is the most exciting staghorn sumac cultivar, interesting and beautiful all season, with excellent orange-to-red fall color. Like all staghorn sumacs, its winter appearance is coarse. |
Negative | On Jun 25, 2013, EA3 from Long Creek, IL wrote: I have had this tree about 7 years. Its foliage is beautiful in each season here in the Midwest, as everyone has mentioned. Unfortunately, the roots are beginning to sprout more and more new young plants . When I dig them up I reach the tree root that about 1.5" and it makes a big hole when I dig up. The sprouts are showing up near the tree and also about 6ft. from it-in my neighbors yard who does not like plants. Considering whether to remove it while I can. |
Neutral | On Jun 5, 2013, ms_greenjeans from Hopkins, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: Just planted one of these in my border near the alley, next to a patch of goutweed. I have heard varying opinions about the sumac being invasive; if it is, I am hoping that the two species fighting it out will keep each other in check. This is because I removed a lot of ditch lilies from that area last year, and the goutweed spread more than it ever had in the previous 20 years, so I figured the two aggressive species had been controlling each other. We'll see what happens. I do hope it works, because the Tiger Eyes sumac is very pretty. |
Negative | On May 28, 2012, Biker1 from McLean, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: It looked great the first year. The next year the leader branch died during the winter. Worst of all was the aggressive rooting of this plant. It ran and ran and ran. I have to remove ALL of it. |
Positive | On May 19, 2012, Baer1 from Chilliwack , BC (Zone 8a) wrote: Have planted in a 4'x4'x3' high raised bed made of PT 4x4s. Surrounded with June bearing strawberries. No issues with suckering. Looks beautiful with the dark green strawb leaves. |
Negative | On Jun 27, 2011, oscarkat01 from Rochester, NY (Zone 6a) wrote: My instinct when I first bought it was to avoid it but I feel in love with the looks. Unfortunately for me, I have limited places to put it due to deer destroying it. It outgrew two different places I planted it. The second time I moved it, the remaining roots started suckering like mad. I now constantly pulling up new plants that spring up 6-9 inches overnight. It sent roots under my sidewalk even. It is such a hassle I would never plant it again. If someone decides to plant it, do not put it in a flower bed with other plants and don't put it near a house or walkway. If you have deer, don't bother. |
Neutral | On Jun 23, 2011, mknatali from Richmond, UT wrote: I have seen Tiger Eyes Sumac growing in planters and they are beautiful. I love the color and the way they grow. I just bought one and was assured they do not succor, but my research today proves otherwise. Mine is in a large pot. I have contained other plants by cutting off the bottom of the pot, leaving the sides around the root ball and planting the tree in the pot to force the roots downward. Do you think this would keep mine from succoring? |
Negative | On Jun 11, 2011, Loued007 from Wykagyl, NY wrote: After 3 years of loving the look of this plant, we've just torn it out of the garden. The roots, and plantlets along the way, went 10 feet in all directions. Yes, easy to pull up but it certainly did damage. We had it on the edge of a garden in suburbia and it extended into our neighbors' lawn and bed. We were unable to try to contain it (like a bamboo) because of our garden limitations- but that certainly seems worth a try. My personal choice - no plant is worth the worry, work and problems of invasiveness. Sorry to be so negative to all of you who REALLY want this plant. Good luck. |
Positive | On Aug 14, 2009, SW_gardener from (Zone 6a) wrote: Beautiful and fast growing! Has put on alot of new growth since planted earlier in the season. |
Neutral | On Jul 20, 2009, Valerie_M from Lancaster, PA wrote: I agree that this is a visually stunning plant. But it has become invasive in my garden. Fortunately, the suckers are fairly easy to pull up but they take other neighboring plants with them. |
Positive | On Aug 25, 2007, jkramer from Saint Charles, IL (Zone 5a) wrote: Lovely bush. It sends out sucker shoots up to two feet away from the main stem. These little shoots can be dug up and replanted elsewhere. Cutting the root from the main bush will cause them to wilt when transplanted, but the little shoots soon perk up and begin to grow on their own. |
Positive | On Oct 14, 2006, Soferdig from Kalispell, MT (Zone 4b) wrote: This plant is now after 2 years of spectacular spring chartreuse to vairgated orange/green summer to the most spectacular long lasting fall colors of yellow to orange. |
Positive | On Nov 24, 2005, bonniewong from edmonton, I love this new cultivar, the colors are unreal and look good with everything from pastels to orange to bright red. It has steadly grown since planted, with a sucker coming up a few inches from the one stem. |
Positive | On Oct 18, 2005, CWinge from Cannon Falls, MN wrote: New growth starts out a gorgeous lime green turning to yellow. |