Smokebush

Sun

Full sun is best; tolerates partial shade, but foliage colour and flowering may be weaker.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Once established, it tolerates dry spells; water deeply during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including chalky, stony or relatively poor ground. Tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions but dislikes persistent waterlogging.

Height

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m), occasionally taller

Spread

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m)

Flowers

Small yellow-green flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by smoky pink, buff or purplish plumes formed mainly by fine hairs on the flower stalks.

Foliage

Rounded to oval leaves, green in the species and purple or golden in some cultivars, turning yellow, orange or red in autumn.

Growth

Moderate; vigorous shoots follow hard pruning.

Care needed

Low

• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Avoid routine heavy feeding; on poor soil, apply a modest amount of balanced fertiliser in spring.
• Allow room for its mature width rather than repeatedly clipping it to fit a narrow space.
• Wear gloves when pruning, as the sap can irritate skin.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, damaged and crossing branches; otherwise prune lightly to retain the natural shape and flowering wood. For larger, stronger-coloured leaves, established plants can be cut back to a low framework at this time, but this greatly reduces or prevents that summer's plumes.

Late winter

Remove dead or crossing branches before growth starts; choose light pruning for plumes or hard pruning for foliage.

Spring

Plant when the ground is workable, water thoroughly and mulch around the root area.

Late spring

Check new growth for aphids and wash off small colonies with water.

Summer

Water young plants during dry spells; avoid shearing off developing plumes.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while soil remains warm, provided the site drains freely.

Late autumn

Check that fallen leaves or nearby planting have not buried the stem bases or blocked drainage.

• Use as a specimen shrub in an open lawn or gravel area where its branching shape and plumes can be seen.
• Place purple-leaved cultivars behind silver foliage, ornamental grasses or pale flowers for contrast.
• Grow in a mixed shrub border with enough space for its broad outline and autumn colour.
• Use hard-pruned plants as bold foliage accents among perennials, accepting the loss of most flowers.

Garden styles it suits: Architectural minimal, Modern, English country, Dry gravel garden, Low-maintenance and Autumn colour.

Plant it with: Lavender, Catmint, Russian sage, Yarrow, Feather reed grass and Lamb's ears.

Wildlife: The small flowers attract some pollinating insects, and the branching growth provides shelter for birds. Its wildlife value varies by region; outside its native range, combine it with locally native plants.

• Verticillium wilt can cause sudden wilting and branch dieback. Remove affected wood, avoid drought stress and seek a diagnosis; there is no reliable chemical cure, and badly affected plants may need removal.
• Waterlogged soil can cause root decline. Improve drainage or move the plant to a freer-draining site rather than continuing to water.
• Aphids may gather on soft shoots. Wash them off with water and encourage natural predators; treatment is rarely needed.
• Few or no plumes often follow hard pruning or excessive shade. Retain older branches and provide more sun if flowering is the priority.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs or horses. For people, sap and contact with foliage can cause skin irritation or dermatitis, especially in sensitive individuals; avoid eye contact and wear gloves when pruning. It is not an edible plant.

• American smoketree (Cotinus obovatus)

  Usually develops into a larger tree with generally larger leaves and scaly bark as it ages. The smoke-like plumes are similar, so young plants can be difficult to distinguish.

• Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)

  Has long leaves divided into many toothed leaflets, fuzzy young stems and dense upright red fruit clusters, rather than single rounded leaves and loose smoky plumes.

The common name refers to the cloud-like effect of the fine, hairy flower stalks, which resemble smoke around the shrub in summer.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or semi-ripe cuttings in summer; rooting can be variable. Layering is another option. Seed usually needs pretreatment to germinate and will not reliably reproduce named cultivars.

Accepted botanical name

Cotinus coggygria

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Czechoslovakia, East Himalaya, France, Greece, Hungary and Iran.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5. Average height 260 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.