Staghorn Sumac

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Author Message   Hydrangea  Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2008 - 04:53 am EST :    I have a staghorn sumac that is about 4 years old 8 feet high and every fall it does NOT change colour! It stays green for the longest time and then all of a sudden turns brown. My Tiger Eyes sumac which is about 12 feet away does OK, but not great either. Both are situated next to 20 feet high spruces in a slightly sheltered spot. The ground is slightly moist but not wet. It seems that every year our Fall weather stays warm up here and then all of a sudden turns cold and the regular sumac never changes colour although the Tiger Eyes does put on a good to very good performance albeit not an excellent show. Any advice as to why this could be happening? Frustrated in Ontario with Sumac! Hydrangea - Ontario, Zone "Canada 5b USA 4"   Zonenvy  Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 07:09 am EST :    My experience with Sumac is it does best in poor soils where not much else wants to make a home. I wonder if your conditions aren't too good for this spreading/suckering shrub. The only other thing I can think of is perhaps too much shade from the larger conifers growing nearby. Regarding Tiger Eyes, I just pulled mine out after five years. The foliage is lovely, but fall color was disappointing every year, and it behaved just like the species, spreading throughout the garden. As Willian Cullina writes about Rhus in his book NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, & VINES: "...display a healthy curiosity for the surrounding landscape...". Contrary to the claims made by vendor, this one behaves no differently, as least in my experience. IMHO, Sumac is best enjoyed from a distance, where its fall foliage makes them look as if they're on fire. Bob Zonenvy - Wisconsin, Zone "4"   Hydrangea  Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 05:32 pm EST :    Thanks Bob for the thoughts. I too wonder about my rich soil and the fact that it is protected in a micro climate with those evergreens. I have been tempted to pull it but it provides some nice shade for some shade plants. One more year! Hydrangea - Ontario, Zone "Canada 5b USA 4"

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