Despite a foggy morning, my Tigereye sumac is showing pretty strong color... Rhus typhina 'Tigereye Bailtiger' sometimes doesn't meet my expectations... this year is one of the exceptions. Shown here on a recent foggy morning, I really have no complaints.... then again Wisconsin color has been better than usual in general this year... dry weather/cold nights? Perhaps.
I originally read that this plant wouldn't spread around with suckers the way many sumacs do. To coin a favorite Gershwin tune... "it ain't necessarily so". The problem was multiplied here because I had to remove one of the main trunks to have an LP tank installed. Since I generally mulch heavily, the suckers were confined to that layer and were easily removed.
As far as culture for Tigereye is concerned, full sun is best and the plant is hardy in zone 4, possibly colder. The spring chartreuse foliage may become somewhat more yellow into the season and the plant is a wonderful textural addition to the gardens. Mature height appears to be about six feet and spread is supposedly the same although I can see it covering much more territory if not watched for suckering. In fact, I have seen reports that it can reach 15 feet in height and 30 feet in width. (I don't let my wife read those reports as she is quite displeased with the suckering). Expected life span may well be fifty years.
Finding good companion plants should be very easy... for example, perovskia would work well. I've had a number of folks suggest this plant would look good next to our dark blue house and I agree that it would be amazing... however, my gut tells me not to go there... maybe after a few more years experience with the cultivar and its habits first hand, I'll be less concerned.
The other day as I was working in the gardens towards dusk, I noticed the strangest light... probably the setting sun reflecting off the clouds. I ran for the camera and I ended up with a photo that looked just a bit like an oil painting, especially the top 2/3rds. By the way, the tree closer at hand just left of center is Amelanchier canadensis and the larger trees are ash. Towards the front right is a sargentii crab...
see ya... Larry
