Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac
Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac
Ferny Native Foliage and the Most Brilliant Fall Color Around
Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina 'Laciniata') is a tough Minnesota-native shrub grown for its bold, tropical-looking, deeply dissected ferny foliage and unbeatable fiery orange-red-purple fall color. Fuzzy red fruit clusters feed birds through winter, and the velvety "staghorn" branches add architecture. It thrives in poor, dry soil where little else will and spreads to colonize banks and naturalized areas — a striking, low-care native for slopes and wild edges in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.
Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Rhus typhina 'Laciniata' |
| Mature Size | 10–15 ft. tall, spreading by suckers |
| Hardiness Zone | 3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil | Adaptable — thrives in poor, dry, lean soil; needs good drainage |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to -40°F — a tough native |
| Deer Resistance | Rarely browsed by deer |
| Native Status | Selection of native staghorn sumac |
| Fall Color | Brilliant orange, red, and purple |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Slopes and naturalized areas: Its suckering habit colonizes banks and wild edges, holding soil and providing bold texture and fall color. Give it room — space 6–10 feet apart, or contain it where spread is unwanted.
Wildlife and fall display: Birds eat the fuzzy red fruit, and the fall color is among the best of any shrub. Pair with native grasses and other tough natives.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September). Very adaptable to poor, dry soil; water through establishment.
How to Plant Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac
Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Choose a spot where it can sucker freely, or plan to remove suckers to contain it.
Watering Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac
First year: Water every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Very drought-tolerant — little to no supplemental water once established.
Q: Does it spread?
Yes — it suckers to form a colony, which is ideal for naturalizing slopes and erosion control. Remove suckers if you want it contained.
Q: Is it native?
Yes — staghorn sumac is a Minnesota native valued for wildlife and stunning fall color.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Easily — hardy well below Twin Cities lows.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Yes — deer rarely browse sumac.
You May Also Like
Gro-Low Sumac (Rhus aromatica): A low, native groundcover sumac with fiery fall color.
Ninebark (Physocarpus): A native shrub with colorful foliage and exfoliating bark.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium): A native grass for a prairie-style planting.
How Many Cutleaf Staghorn Sumacs Do I Need?
Because it suckers to form a colony, you need far fewer plants than you'd think. Space 8 feet apart and let them fill in:
| Bank / Edge to Naturalize | Plants Needed (8 ft spacing) |
| 15 feet | 2 plants |
| 25 feet | 3–4 plants |
| 40 feet | 5–6 plants |
| 60 feet | 8 plants |
As a specimen, one plant is plenty — give it a 10–12-foot circle and plan to mow or prune suckers at the colony edge to hold the line.
Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Velvety, antler-like branches push out finely cut, ferny new foliage — one of the latest shrubs to leaf out, so be patient in May.
- Summer: A bold, tropical-textured canopy; greenish flower clusters on female plants feed pollinators and develop into fuzzy red fruit spikes.
- Fall: The signature show — foliage ignites in orange, scarlet, and purple, arguably the best fall color of any Minnesota shrub.
- Winter: Fuzzy crimson fruit clusters stand on bare, velvety staghorn branches all winter, feeding birds and adding sculpture above the snow.
At a Glance
✔ Minnesota Native ✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Four-Season Interest
Plant It With
- Gro-Low Sumac — its own suggested partner: the knee-high native sumac to skirt the front of the colony with matching fall fire.
- Tiger Eyes Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac — the chartreuse-gold cousin for a striking two-tone sumac planting.
- Diabolo Ninebark — a big purple-leaved native whose dark foliage sets off the ferny green texture all summer.
- Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — upright native-style grass plumes for the prairie look the body recommends.
Is Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac Right for Your Yard?
This sumac is for the tough spots: dry sunny banks, lean gravelly soil, wild edges where you want native structure, bird food, and blazing fall color with zero irrigation. Deer leave it alone. It's not a fit for small, manicured foundation beds — it suckers and WILL form a colony, so skip it anywhere you can't give it room to roam or commit to edging out runners once a season.