Smoke Bush

Smoke Bush Care

Cotinus Coggygria

What is the plant

Smoke bush, Cotinus coggygria, is a deciduous shrub that's also commonly known as royal purple smoke bush, smokebush, smoke tree, and purple smoke tree. Smoke bush is often used as a garden specimen thanks to its beautiful purple-pink smokey plumes and the purple leaves found on some cultivars.Smoke bush has an upright, multi-stemmed habit. The leaves are waxy green except for those cultivars with purple leaves, and are 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, ovate in shape. They turn yellow, orange, or purplish-red in fall, depending on variety. The name "smoke bush" derives from billowy hairs attached to the flower clusters which remain in place through the summer, turning a smoky pink to purplish-pink as the weeks progress. Purple smoke bush is dioecious, meaning it has staminate and pistillate (male and female) flowers borne on different individuals.

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Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

5a - 8b

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Once established, smoke bush has good tolerance for dry conditions. When getting established, the shrubs require regular watering, but mature plants thrive nicely if watered moderately every 10 days during the active growing season.
Pruning
Pruning needs are minimal with smoke bush. You can prune anytime to remove damaged branches, but spring is the best time to prune in order to shape the shrub or rejuvenate it. If you wish to avoid the messy flowers, prune heavily in spring to remove the flowering wood.
Fertilizer
Smoke bush does not require much in the way of feeding. Fertilize them in spring with a layer of compost. An annual application of organic plant food may be called for if the shrubs are not growing vigorously. The main needs are for nitrogen to fuel the growth of foliage.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
In part shade conditions, foliage will be sparse, requiring regular pruning to keep the plants dense.
Soil
Smoke bush does well in nearly all soil conditions provided the soil is well-drained. It does not tolerate damp, soggy soils.
Temperature
Smoke bush does best in moderate temperatures and average to dry humidity levels. In moist, very warm climates, fungal diseases are often a problem. In colder climates, winter winds can damage the plants, so they should be planted in sheltered conditions in these regions.