The Sumac Tigers Eye Shrub, A Charteuse Beauty In The Garden

About The Dwarf Sumac Tigers Eye Shrub

They say the Sumac Tigers Eye is invasive and aggressive. They say it 'suckers' like crazy. Well...not exactly this cultivar, but certainly other Sumacs. And yet, I still plant this dwarf shrub.

I absolutely love the charteuse green coloring and the entire growth habit of this shrub. While the branches angle upward, the deep cut leaves droop downward. Sometimes this unusual drooping has some gardeners concerned that the shrub is dying, but fear not...this is perfectly normal.

In the spring and summer the leaves of this herbaceous shrub turn a brilliant lime green as pictured above. Then, in the fall they turn to a bright yellow, orange and red.

And so it suckers...for now I don't mind. In fact, while zoned for a 4, I garden in a zone 3 and my previous Sumac lasted for only two years before succumbing to our harsh winters. However, low and behold, a sucker emerged this spring from the mother shrub and I once again have a Sumac growing on my peninsula garden. You see, there are advantages to a shrub suckering!

How To grow The Sumac Tigers Eye

My soil is a heavy clay and therefore I always add additional nutrients prior to planting like a tablespoon of the growth hormone called MYKES.

A North American native (hails from Minnesota), this multi stemmed dwarf shrub also prefers to be planted in full sun as it actually likes drier conditions than wet. It is a relatively slow grower and reaches about 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide. You can see in the above image that the Tiger's Eye leaves start growing from the base of the plant, ergo I planted taller Marigolds on either side for a contrast and not in front.

Can you imagine how beautiful this lacy leaf Sumac would look planted in a Japanese Garden theme next to the Rose Glow Barberry? Stunning.

Please visit my Garden Shrub Page for further information on shrub planting and upkeep.

Great companion planting: Euonymus Emerald Gold, False Cypress, Barberry Shrub or Catmint.

Check out my Site Index Page for a listing of additional annuals and perennials to plant in your flower garden design.

Sumac Tigers Eye Features

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