By Kelsey Deckert, Horticulture agent

NDSU Extension – Burleigh County

When I was in high school, I used to work at a greenhouse and nursery. During my time there, I was introduced to so many different plants, but one plant that always stuck out to me was the Tiger Eyes® sumac, or referred to by its common name, the cutleaf staghorn sumac. It is one of my favorite landscape shrubs.

The Tiger Eyes® sumac is unique as it has many striking characteristics. It is a staghorn sumac, which is native throughout the U.S. and is commonly found alongside ditches, woodland edges and in shelterbelts. Staghorn sumacs aren’t ideal as an ornamental, as they can grow up to 30 feet tall and will sucker rampantly.

Tiger Eyes® was released in 2004 by Bailey Nursery and became the perfect ornamental sumac.  A nursery employee discovered a mutation of Laciniata sumac, which was a more compact size and a slow spreading selection.

Tiger Eyes® offers interest throughout the whole growing season. It has deeply cut leaves starting out in a greenish-yellow color that shifts to a bright yellow. One of my favorite aspects of the shrub is the fuzzy, velvety pinkish stems. Its fruit is a red fuzzy drupe, drawing appeal to it.

Tiger Eyes® mature at six to 8 feet in height and can be used in many ways in the landscape. It can be a focal point or integrated with other shrubs. There are no significant pest problems for this shrub, but know it will not do well in clay soil.

Fall is the time of year when Tiger Eyes® give us a spectacular display of colors. Soon its leaves will shift from the bright yellow to orange to a fiery red. As you see the color transition, you will understand how it is a top showstopper for fall!

For more information about Tiger Eyes® sumac, contact your local NDSU Extension agent. Find the Extension office for your county at ndsu.ag/countyoffice.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Sept. 10, 2025

Source: Kelsey Deckert, 701-221-6865, Kelsey.j.deckert@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-6136, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu