Inconspicuous yellow flowers in mid-spring, followed by red berrylike fruits in the fall. Foliage turns yellow and red in fall.
Zone: 3
Light and Soil: Full sun. Light, well-drained soil.
Height: 8'
Comments
Quick growing. Use as a ground cover on hard-to-plant slopes or in foundation plantings. Attractive in fall. Pruning encourages growth.
Shining or Dwarf
(R. copallina)
Tiny greenish-yellow flowers on 4- to 5-inch spikes, followed by red hairy berrylike fruits. Foliage is lustrous green, turning scarlet in the fall.
Zone: 5
Light and Soil: Full sun. Tolerant of most soil types.
Height: 20'
Comments
Quick growing. Use as a specimen tree or as a backdrop in a shrub border. Attractive in fall. Pruning will encourage more stems to grow. Plant both sexes to get fruit.
Smooth
(R. glabra)
Tiny greenish-yellow flowers on 4- to 8-inch spikes in midsummer, followed by bright red berries. Foliage turns vivid red in the fall. Laciniata variety has lobed leaves.
Zone: 2
Light and Soil: Full sun. Tolerant of most soil types.
Height: 20'
Comments
Quick growing. Use as a background or screen plant. Can become a pest. Plant both sexes to get fruit. Attractive in the fall. Pruning encourages growth.
Staghorn
(R. typhina)
Tiny greenish-yellow flowers on 4- to 8-inch spikes in early summer, followed by bright red berries. Foliage turns vivid red in the fall. Dissecta and Laciniata varieties have lobed leaves. Twigs are fuzzy.
Zone: 3
Light and Soil: Full sun. Tolerant of most soil types.
Height: 30'
Comments
Quick growing. Use as a background plant in large yards. Spreads by underground runners and can become pestiferous. Plant both sexes to get fruit. Pruning will encourage more stems to grow.