COMMON SMOKEBUSH or SMOKETREE
Cotinus coggygria

Height: 8-12'
Width: variable, 6-12'
Hardiness Zone: 4b/5b
Exposure: sun or partial shade
Origin: Central and Southern Europe to Central China and Himalayas

Description:

This upright and spreading, loose, open, decidous shrub is valued for its large smoke-like silver to pink panicles of feathery pedicels Cotinus coggygria ‘Nordine’ bearing flowers, then seeds that decorate the terminals of branches through mid-to late-summer and autumn. The 1½ to 2½ -inch long rounded blue-green leaves may turn yellow-red or purple in autumn especially in cooler climates. The plant is useful as a bold focal point in a shrub border, on the woodland edge or in bold mass plantings on large sites.

Site and Cultural Requirements:

Best established from container-grown or balled and burlapped plants; adaptable to a wide variety of well-drained soils and pH ranges. Where stems are winter-killed new growth quickly develops during the ensuing summer.

Insect/Disease Issues:

Relatively free of serious pest problems; reportedly susceptible to Verticillium fungus.

Cultivars:

‘Daydream’ -Dense habit with green foliage and large dense flower clusters that mature later than species, but reportedly last longer; zone 5a.

‘Grace’ -Hybrid between C. coggygria and C. obovatus; large pink panicles; leaves 4 to 6” long, light red when young, turning blue-green in summer and red, orange or yellow in autumn; height estimated 20’; zone 5.

‘Nordine’ -Large ruby-red plumose clusters after midsummer; most cold-hardy purple-leaf form; zone 5a. ‘Royal Purple’ -Purple-leaved shrub with beige flower clusters in summer; winter injury common in zones 4 and 5, but new growth is vigorous.

‘Velvet Cloak’ -Dark purple-leaved shrub with reddish purple autumn color; injury common in zones 4 and 5, but new growth is vigorous; very similar to ‘Royal Purple’.

Continus coggygria 'Royal Purple' (top left and right, lower left). C. coggygria ‘Nordine’, (lower right)

 

 

We would like to thank the Landscape Plant Development Center and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the botanical information and photos.

 

 

The Brenton Arboretum
Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Brenton Arboretum
Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org