Botanic name: Rhus typhina 'Laciniata'

Common name: Shredded Sumac or Cut-leaf Sumac

Size: 8' plus high and equally wide or wider

Favored growing conditions: Well drained soil in full sun will tolerate dry soils. Spreads by root suckers.

Flower color: Flowers are greenish-yellow, in June or July

Hardiness: Zones 4 - 8

Pros: The picture says it all: great foliage texture and superb fall color

Cons: Sumac spread by root suckers, so it may pop up in locations where it is not wanted. They are also not very long-lived, so it is not the tree of choice if you are planting for future generation. Not particularly attractive in the winter.

Comments: I love the native Staghorn Sumac. I don't care that they run around the garden and are short-lived. I love the fuzz on the stems and new leaves in the spring, the tropical look to the foliage and form in the summer, and the dark red berries in the fall. This plant should be considered more often for use on dry, sunny slopes.