The vinegar tree Rhus typhina is now known as a problem plant because it spreads uncontrollably. But not every variety has a high urge to spread. There are cultivars that grow slowly and produce fewer root shoots.
The cultivar 'Tiger Eyes' is said to resemble the color of tiger eyes
There are these varieties:
- Rhus typhina 'Dissecta'
- Rhus typhina 'Laciniata'
- Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'
Rhus typhina 'Dissecta'
It is not without reason that this cultivated form bears the name Fernwedel Vinegar Tree, because the shrub's leaves are more reminiscent of a fern than a tree. This variety reaches heights of growth of up to 150 centimeters and flowers from June to August. 'Dissecta' means slashed, suggesting the heavily incised leaves. Therefore, this variety is also known under the name slotted vinegar tree.
It prefers a location in the sun and requires little maintenance. A cut leads to an unsightly appearance. Refrain from working on the ground around the shrub. The roots of all vinegar tree varieties crawl shallow in the upper layers of the soil. 'Dissecta' has a high habit of spreading, with the root system penetrating the soil up to ten meters away from the parent plant.
Rhus typhina 'Laciniata'
It is one of the slow-growing varieties whose urge to spread is somewhat restricted. The typical pinnate leaves turn an intense red in autumn and surpass the autumn colors of the other two varieties in terms of their luminosity. The infructescences glow a scarlet red and contrast with the green leaves. This property gave the variety the name Scarlet Vinegar. 'Laciniata' carries additional bracts in the inflorescence, which appear heavily torn.
Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes'
This variety owes its name to the constantly changing coloration of the foliage, which is as varied as the tiger's eye. Over the course of the year, the leaves change color from green-yellow to an intense golden-yellow to yellow-orange. Shortly before the leaves fall, the foliage glows fiery red.
The narrow leaflets with their roughly serrated edges are reminiscent of the stripes on a tiger's skin. This variety grows slowly and forms comparatively few root suckers. It reaches a height of two meters and thrives in both sun and partial shade. As a hardy shrub, it withstands temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius.