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Rhus Prairie Flame™

A dwarf selection with amazingly glossy leaves.

A deciduous multi-stemmed shrub with a refined, compact habit making it much smaller than the species. Prairie Flame has extremely glossy, attractive foliage, creamy-white blooms in late July and striking deep red fall color. This compact sumac can be grown in a wide variety of soils and landscape conditions. It is very drought-tolerant and grows best in full sun. Flame is an excellent colonizing plant. Plant it in front of evergreens to maximize its glorious fall color. This selection is fruitless and thrives as a companion for native or naturalized plantings. It is also useful for soil stabilization on slopes. This superior selection is perfect for massing and naturalized plantings. Planted as a specimen or en masse, this sumac will provide a colorful display from late spring with its extremely glossy foliage through a full frost with its dependable, fire-engine red fall color. Also useful for slopes, open areas and roadside plantings.

Who Am I?

  • Common Name:
    Prairie Flame sumac
  • Botanical Name:
    Rhus copallina var latifolia 'Morton'
  • Type:
    Shrub
  • U.S. Native:
    YES

Cultural Details

TYPE

Shrub

U.S. NATIVE

YES
  • Light:
    Full sun
  • Soil:
    Tolerant of poor soils, but adaptable to many
  • Moisture:
    Drought tolerant
  • Hardiness Zone
    5-7
  • Bloom Time:
    Summer
  • Size:
    7' tall by 10' wide
  • Diseases & Pests:
    Excellent overall. Has shown slight susceptibility to verticillium wilt and powdery mildew in evaluations

What Makes Me Special?

Dwarf habit and conservative growth rate, dark green extremely glossy foliage.

Landscape Use

Mass plantings, mixed borders, naturalized plantings, urban gardens

Origin

Selected from the collections of The Morton Arboretum of Lisle, Illinois, from seed collected in Iroquois County Conservation Area, near the Illinois/Indiana border.

Propagation

Root Cuttings
Softwood Cuttings

Who Am I?

  • Common Name:
    Prairie Flame sumac
  • Botanical Name:
    Rhus copallina var latifolia 'Morton'
  • Type:
    Shrub
  • U.S. Native:
    YES

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