When does staghorn sumac bloom?

Staghorn sumac produces upright greenish yellow flower clusters in June and July, followed later by dense red fruit spikes that often persist into winter.

What pollinators are attracted to staghorn sumac?

The summer flowers draw bees, butterflies and beetles, which visit for nectar and pollen.

How much light and water does staghorn sumac need?

It grows best in full sun to part shade and tolerates soil moisture ranging from average to dry, preferring well drained sites over wet ones.

How does staghorn sumac grow and spread?

It is a multi stemmed, colony forming shrub that spreads by root suckers, often creating dense thickets along open fields, roadsides, and forest edges.

Is Virginia Sumac toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Virginia Sumac as toxic to livestock.

Is Virginia Sumac HOA-friendly?

Virginia Sumac takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Virginia Sumac

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Rhus typhina

Last reviewed: September 2026

Staghorn sumac is a fast growing, multi stemmed shrub that blooms in June and July with greenish yellow flower clusters, followed by fuzzy red fruit spikes. It grows well in open fields, roadsides and woodland edges across the eastern and midwestern United States.

Toxicity unknown

Virginia Sumac (Rhus typhina) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Virginia Sumac as toxic to livestock.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

240"–480" H × 240"–480" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, CT, DE, GA and 22 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, beetles

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This large, fast-spreading shrub forms colonies through underground runners. It produces clusters of red berries in fall and displays brilliant orange-red autumn foliage before dropping its leaves for winter.

Growing Virginia Sumac

Grow Virginia Sumac in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 240 to 480 inches tall and spread 240 to 480 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Virginia Sumac takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Spreads aggressively by root suckers
Can appear wild and unkempt
Very large mature size may overwhelm typical residential spaces

Wildlife value

Host plant for spring azure, rosy maple moth.

The June and July flowers attract bees, butterflies, and beetles for pollination. Birds feed on the persistent red berry clusters throughout fall and winter.

Common questions

When does staghorn sumac bloom?: Staghorn sumac produces upright greenish yellow flower clusters in June and July, followed later by dense red fruit spikes that often persist into winter.
What pollinators are attracted to staghorn sumac?: The summer flowers draw bees, butterflies and beetles, which visit for nectar and pollen.
How much light and water does staghorn sumac need?: It grows best in full sun to part shade and tolerates soil moisture ranging from average to dry, preferring well drained sites over wet ones.
How does staghorn sumac grow and spread?: It is a multi stemmed, colony forming shrub that spreads by root suckers, often creating dense thickets along open fields, roadsides, and forest edges.
Is Virginia Sumac toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Virginia Sumac as toxic to livestock.
Is Virginia Sumac HOA-friendly?: Virginia Sumac takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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