Rhus typhina Tiger Eye

Does anybody else here grow this? I planted one for a friend and it has been--to say the least--temperamental, something which I just did not expect from a Rhus. It seems to suffer badly from drought, which surprises me. What has been your all experiences with this cultivar?

Scott

Just planted it this Spring Scott. I'll keep you posted. So far we have not had to deal with drought, knock wood!

Victor

I have one and it's doing great. It did have a spell earlier this spring (I think I overwatered it). Now it's recovered and very lush. Last year the fall color was on fire. Here's a pic.


Todd

I have always wanted one and they are common - my main concern is how fast it would spread?

I have several planted here and they do great. Somewhat slow to start but they are beautiful chartreuse in the summer sun and a georgeous orange yellow in the fall. Mine are in heavily composted clay and are irrigated with soakers. None have perished. One of my favorite plants for tiering over perenials. Here is a picture of one. Mine have not spred yet. I have had good luck with them but the oldest is only 3 years and no root spred yet. The lable said that were not aggressive.

This message was edited Jul 7, 2006 12:02 AM

Mine has started sending out suckers. It has been in the ground for 2 years now. What is the best way to propagate these suckers as they don't have their own root systems yet? Should I cut the cord when dormant and see if they grow their own roots? I was planning on moving it next spring (wanted to this year but was too busy) so I would be cutting the cord then at least. I need to clear out room for that Aconitifolium in the background.

I am planning to use mine for an overstory so I carefully choose the laterals and then clear out the others so under plants can take off. As far as the laterals on my Smooth Sumac I remove the ones in close and dig up the distant ones (over3') and pot in good soil and bone meal. They usually take off in the spring this way.

Scott,

Checked Hightshoe's Native Trees, Shrubs (etc.), and DG's PFs. You're right, this little guy should be drought tolerant. Of course that means once it's established. When did you plant it? According to Hightshoe, Staghorns, in general, are sensitive to soil compaction and intolerant of shade. Heavy snow, ice and wind can cause brittle stems. Infrequently it is susceptible to Verticillium wilt which is most serious.

That's all I got.

Sherry

Scott:

Were you getting wilt symptoms? I planted Rhus copallina and had a heck of a time with sudden wilting symptoms. Not sure if it was verticillium or not, but it seemed to come out of nowhere, and never was completely fatal. I left all the various Rhus at my old house--in the end, they were just too much trouble. I have dug up suckers 15' away from the parent after just one summer of being in the ground. Best for the wilds I would say.

This from Possibility Place on the wilt:

Shining Sumac
Rhus copallina
If the soil is heavy then this plant will NOT grow. Keep it well drained and the fall color will astound. By far the most brilliant fall color of all sumac that you would want to grow in your yard. The name "Shining" comes from the fact that the leaves are glabrous (hairless) and are very shiny in sunlight. Very site-sensitive, which means that it must be in a light, well-drained soil (sand is best) and full sun. I have grown it on heavy soils and it gets a wilt that doesn't totally kill it but makes a mess.



This message was edited Jul 12, 2006 8:03 AM

I see Rhus copallina thriving on very tight clay soils in southern Illinois and in the Ozarks of Missouri. We have it doing fine here on silty clay loam. I think excess irrigation is the factor, not soil texture, just like with Cotinus. Let it bake, don't drown it, and you'll do fine.

I've resisted Tiger Eyes for a couple of years because IMHO the ones I've seen have looked chlorotic and sickly much of the growing season and the color is a little too much. I finally broke down and got one this year, just to test it here.

Guy S.

I propagated a small sucker from smooth sumac. I cut it off the main root and planted it in some sandy soil. It was about 1' tall at the time (Feb) and is now almost 4' tall. It took about a month before new growth started and then it was lights out.

Willis, i'd be happy to take a rooted sucker off your hands, how about a trade?