A Vibrant Native Garden with Staghorn Sumac and Arizona Cypress

A garden combining Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac) and Cupressus arizonica var. glabra (Arizona Smooth Cypress) brings visual variety and environmental benefits. This pairing contrasts Staghorn Sumac’s seasonal color changes with the evergreen presence of Arizona Cypress, making it a versatile and resilient landscape choice.

This garden offers a dynamic visual display, with the fiery red, orange, and yellow fall foliage of Staghorn Sumac beautifully offset by the blue-green, year-round foliage of Arizona Cypress. The upright, evergreen cypress provides structure, while the sumac spreads outward, creating a layered, textured look.

• Staghorn Sumac is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to eastern North America. It thrives in open fields and forest edges.
• Arizona Smooth Cypress, an evergreen conifer, is native to the southwestern U.S., particularly in Arizona.

Benefits

This garden enhances biodiversity, stabilizes soil, and provides spectacular fall visual interest.

• The wide-reaching roots of the sumac and the deep-rooted cypress help in erosion control.
• Both plants are drought-tolerant once established, making them perfect for xeriscaping and low-water gardens.
• Staghorn Sumac attracts bees and butterflies with its yellow-green flowers in summer, while the Arizona Cypress attracts songbirds.
• Both plants are low-maintenance. Sumac may require periodic pruning to control suckering.

Fun Facts

• Rhus typhina fruits can be used to make teas and are an important winter food for wildlife.
• Arizona Cypress is often used as a Christmas tree due to its attractive, conical shape.

Plant Association Suggestions

To extend the season of interest in this garden, you may want to add other native plants, such as Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch), Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster), Amsonia tabernaemontana (Blue Star), Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass), and Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower). This would provide a dynamic, year-round display of color and texture.

• Betula papyrifera offers stunning white bark for winter interest, along with yellow fall foliage. Its graceful form and texture complement the bold shapes of the sumac and cypress.
• Aster novae-angliae brings a burst of vibrant purple flowers in late summer to fall, attracting pollinators and adding a fresh splash of color as the sumac’s leaves begin to turn.
• Amsonia tabernaemontana adds spring interest with its star-shaped, light blue flowers and soft, green foliage, providing early-season beauty before other plants reach their peak.
• Panicum virgatum adds height and texture with its graceful arching blades and burgundy-tinted fall colors, enhancing the garden’s movement and contrast.
• Echinacea purpurea offers summer blooms with its distinctive, cone-shaped flowers in shades of pink and purple, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies while adding a contrasting texture to the garden.

Together, these native plants not only extend the blooming season but also enhance the biodiversity and ecological value of the garden, supporting wildlife, pollinators, and providing year-round visual interest.