Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes' 31cm / 15L - Collection Only Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac (Stag's Horn Sumach)

Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'

£97.49 £113.99 SAVE 14%
Very hardySun-lovingLoved by pollinators
Pot size
31cm / 15L - Collection Only £97.49

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Description

The Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes', the compact staghorn sumac (also sold as stag's horn sumach or by its cultivar name 'Bailtiger'), is one of the most electric foliage shrubs you can grow outdoors in the UK. Its deeply cut, fern-like leaves emerge lime-green in spring on velvety pink-red stems, glow chartreuse to golden-yellow through summer, then ignite into fiery orange and scarlet-red in autumn. Add the upright, candelabra branching and plush red seed cones and you have a living sculpture that carries the border for three seasons.

Unlike the wild species, 'Tiger Eyes' stays neat and slow, reaching roughly 1.5 to 2.5 m over many years, and it suckers far less freely, although it can still throw up shoots from the roots (see the growing tip below). Rated RHS H6, it is fully hardy across the UK and shrugs off hard winter frosts with no protection needed, dropping its leaves in winter and bursting back each spring.

Growing tip on suckering: like all staghorn sumacs, 'Tiger Eyes' can send up suckers from its roots. It is far better behaved than the species, but for complete peace of mind grow it in a large container or install a root barrier, and simply pull or dig out any stray suckers as they appear. That makes it a superb, controllable centrepiece for exotic borders and gravel schemes.

Water regularly through the first couple of summers to settle it in, after which it becomes genuinely drought tolerant and happy in exposed, breezy or coastal spots. Its bold, architectural outline earns it a place in any hardy exotic planting scheme, whether as a standalone accent or the fiery backbone of a jungle border. For a picture of how deciduous exotics change through the year, read our what to expect guide.

Every 'Tiger Eyes' we send out is nursery-grown, selected for a strong branch framework and healthy roots, and packed with care to arrive in top condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac (Stag's Horn Sumach)

Plant me in full sun and the coldest UK winters do not worry me.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac (Stag's Horn Sumach)

Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes' needs full sun and moist but well-drained soil. It is very hardy, standing the coldest UK winters outdoors.

Good for

Architectural Coastal & Exposed Dry & Gravel Gardens Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H6 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −20°C

fully hardy (RHS H6), deciduous, no winter protection required.

Position

Full sunSouth-facingEast-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered

full sun gives the brightest gold and the strongest autumn fire; it tolerates a little shade, but the colour softens.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

any free-draining chalk, clay, loam or sand across the full pH range; it copes with poor, dry ground once established.

Watering

Water regularly through the first one to two summers to settle in a strong root system, after which it becomes genuinely drought tolerant. Important: this sumac suckers from its roots, so grow it in a large pot or with a root barrier installed and pull or dig out any stray suckers as soon as they appear to keep it in bounds. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first one to two summers to settle in a strong root system, after which it becomes genuinely drought tolerant. Important: this sumac suckers from its roots, so grow it in a large pot or with a root barrier installed and pull or dig out any stray suckers as soon as they appear to keep it in bounds.

Mature size

Height1.5-2.5 m
Spread2.5-4 m

Reaches full size in 10-20 years

Growth habit

Suckering

Flowering

Jun-Aug

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Deciduous

Pruning

Needs little pruning. If you want to control its size or rejuvenate it, cut the whole plant back hard in late winter and it will reshoot vigorously. Important: this sumac suckers from the roots, so grow it in a large pot or with a root barrier and remove any suckers as they appear.

Toxicity

The milky sap can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals, so wear gloves when pruning or removing suckers. Not intended for consumption. Generally regarded as low risk to pets, but best not eaten.

Native range

E. North America (species); cultivar of garden origin

Family

Anacardiaceae

Also known as

Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'

Genus

Rhus
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

How big does Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes' get?

It is a compact cultivar, reaching roughly 1.5 to 2.5 m tall with a broad, branching spread over 10 to 20 years. That makes it far smaller and slower than the wild staghorn sumac, so it works as a controllable focal point in borders or as architectural foliage in smaller gardens.

Does Tiger Eyes sumac sucker or become invasive?

Yes, like all staghorn sumacs it can send up suckers from its roots, although 'Tiger Eyes' is much better behaved than the species. To keep it in bounds, grow it in a large container or with a root barrier installed, and simply pull or dig out any stray suckers as soon as they appear. Do that and it stays a tidy, well-mannered specimen.

Where is the best place to plant Tiger Eyes sumac, sun or shade?

Plant it in full sun for the brightest golden summer foliage and the most intense orange and scarlet autumn colour. It will cope with light shade, but the colour is noticeably muted. It is happy on any free-draining soil and tolerates exposed, breezy and coastal positions once established, making it a versatile choice for exotic borders.

Can I grow Tiger Eyes sumac in a pot?

Yes, it is well suited to a large container on a patio or courtyard, and growing it in a pot is one of the easiest ways to control its suckering habit. Use a big, free-draining pot with a loam-based compost, keep it watered through summer, and see our plants for pots range for more container-friendly hardy exotics.

How and when should I prune Tiger Eyes sumac?

It needs very little pruning. If you want to keep it smaller or rejuvenate an older plant, cut the whole framework back hard in late winter and it will reshoot vigorously with fresh, extra-large leaves in spring. Always wear gloves, as the sap can irritate sensitive skin, and remove any root suckers at the same time.

Is Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes' hardy in the UK?

Yes, it is fully hardy across the UK. Rated RHS H6, it tolerates temperatures well below -20C and needs no winter protection. Being deciduous, it drops its leaves and stands bare through winter before leafing back each spring, so do not worry when it looks bare in the cold months. Our what to expect guide explains the seasonal cycle of deciduous exotics.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
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Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

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Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

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All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

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Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'
£97.49 £113.99