Plant Profile: Rhus typhina

This plant can reach heights of up to 25 feet. Its medium green foliage transforms into a vibrant display of red, yellow, orange, and scarlet hues in the fall, resembling red velvet. To rejuvenate the plant, it can be cut back to the ground every few years. While it is not toxic, it can become invasive, spreading through suckers to create colonies. This species is native to the western regions of North Carolina and is known for its drought resistance. In spring and summer, it produces striking white flowers, which are later followed by equally eye-catching red berries. One of its distinctive features is the reddish-brown hairs that adorn the young branchlets, reminiscent of the velvety texture found on a stag's horns.

It thrives in average, well-drained soils that range from dry to medium moisture, and it prefers full sun to partial shade. The plant is adaptable to various soil types, although it does not fare well in poorly drained conditions. It generally withstands urban environments. This shrub tends to sucker, forming thickets in its natural habitat through self-seeding and root suckering. Its native range extends from the edges of woodlands, roadsides, and railroad embankments to the margins of streams and swamps, spanning from Quebec and Ontario to Minnesota, and further south to Georgia, Indiana, and Iowa.

**Other Plant Issues:** It may aggressively spread through root suckers.