Sumac

Blazing scarlet and orange foliage makes staghorn sumac one of the boldest plants of autumn. Fuzzy crimson fruit clusters persist into winter, feeding birds when other sources are scarce. Velvety, antler-like branches give the bare winter shrub an architectural look. It thrives on dry slopes and poor soils, making it useful for erosion control, naturalized areas, and wildlife plantings. In the wild, fire and weathering crack the tough seed coat, so a hot water soak at home does the same job before sowing.