PRAIRIE FLAME™ SHINING SUMAC

Rhus copallina var. latifolia ‘Morton’

Prairie Flame™ is a compact and beautiful specimen of flameleaf sumac.  Whereas the straight species may reach upwards of 25’ in height with an even broader spread (by underground suckers), this one is constrained by a moderated growth habit to dimensions less than half the size, bringing it back  into the realm of something that may be safely planted in a garden (albeit a large one).  Besides compact habit, it has wonderful dark green and glossy leaves that turn a striking fire-engine red in fall.  It also has dense creamy-white terminal flower spikes in late summer that don’t set fruit (male clone).  Although hardy to intense drought and sharp winter cold (to USDA zone 5 or possibly 4), it should not be planted in soils where verticillium wilt is present.