Rhus typhina Tiger Eyes® ‘Bailtiger’
Overview
Uses: Specimen plantings, slopes, mixed borders, and mass plantings.
Benefits: Finely cut, chartreuse to golden foliage on fuzzy stems gives a tropical look, then turns brilliant orange and scarlet in fall. Handles dry, poor soils.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Upright, Vase-shaped — open, layered branching.
Foliage Color: Chartreuse to Gold, turning Orange and Red in fall
Mature Height: 6 feet
Mature Width: 6 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Golden, fern-like foliage with a tropical look and a native pedigree.
Staghorn sumac is a native shrub of eastern North America, named for its fuzzy young branches, which look like a deer's antlers in velvet. Tiger Eyes® is a compact, gold-leaved selection of it. Its long leaves are cut into many narrow leaflets that emerge chartreuse and mature to bright golden yellow, held on fuzzy stems that branch in open, horizontal layers.
The effect is almost tropical. The leaflets droop gently from each branch, giving the plant a soft, palm-like silhouette that stands out in a border or on a slope. It matures around 6 feet tall and wide, a fraction of the size of the species.
Fall is its big moment. The gold foliage turns a fiery mix of orange and scarlet, among the brightest fall color of any shrub. It also takes heat, drought, and poor soil in stride once established, which suits it to the dry, sunny spots that defeat many ornamentals.
Care
Tiger Eyes® Staghorn Sumac Care
Plant in full sun for the best gold color and fall display. In too much shade the foliage turns greener and the plant grows more open.
Sumac prefers well-drained soil and is at home in sandy, rocky, or lean ground. Avoid heavy, wet sites where water collects.
Water deeply once a week through the first growing season while roots establish. After that, it handles dry spells well and rarely needs supplemental watering except in prolonged drought.
Rich soil and heavy feeding are not needed and can make growth soft. At most, give one light application of a slow release fertilizer in early spring; in most soils it needs none.
Shape the plant, if needed, in late winter. Like all staghorn sumacs, it sends up suckers from its roots, though it is less aggressive than the species. Cut unwanted suckers at ground level, or let a few grow to form a small colony on a slope. Where it borders a lawn, regular mowing keeps them in check.
Size
What Size is the Tiger Eyes® Staghorn Sumac for Sale Online?
Our Tiger Eyes® Staghorn Sumac ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive as bare, fuzzy stems with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Tiger Eyes® Staghorn Sumac Grow?
Expect about 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide at maturity, in an upright, open, vase-like shape. Plantings can widen over time through suckers if they are left in place. Space plants about 5 to 6 feet apart.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is most often called staghorn sumac, and is also known as velvet sumac for its fuzzy stems.
Is Tiger Eyes® Staghorn Sumac a native plant?
It is a selection of Rhus typhina, which is native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada through the Great Lakes and Appalachian regions. Selections like this one are often called nativars: they keep the character of the native species in a more compact, ornamental form. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Does it spread?
Somewhat. Staghorn sumac spreads by root suckers, and Tiger Eyes® does too, though more slowly than the species. In a bed, cut suckers at ground level as they appear. On a slope or in a naturalized area, letting it form a small group can be an advantage, since the roots help hold soil.
Will it grow in dry, poor soil?
Yes. Once established it handles heat, drought, and lean, sandy, or rocky soil, which makes it a strong choice for hot banks, curbside strips, and other spots that are hard to water. Browse more Drought-Tolerant Plants.
How is it different from regular staghorn sumac?
The species is a large shrub or small tree that can reach 15 to 25 feet, with green leaves and a strong tendency to spread. Tiger Eyes® stays around 6 feet, has gold rather than green summer foliage, and suckers less, so it fits a garden border instead of a roadside thicket. For more shrubs, see our Shrubs & Bushes.
