Smokebush Cotinus coggygria

Cotinus coggygria is an upright spreading deciduous shrub or small tree in the cashew family. It prefers to grow in full sun as its leaves will revert back to green in the shade, and it tolerates a range of soil pH and soil types. and provides a wide range of garden interest throughout the season. Different cultivars may have different color foliage which will change to shades of bright orange and yellow in the fall.

The flowers are showy, whispy, and airy. They consist of many filaments which make up a cloud of color on the current season's growth. The color of the flowering is largely a smoky pink to light purplish-pink which is dependent on the cultivar. In the garden, this plant is best used as a large accent plant or single specimen.  You can prune it back to the ground in late winter and have it form an informal hedge.  Even if you do not want a hedge you can prune the plant back to 6"-8" above the ground to rejunivate the form but you will not get any flowers that year.  If you would like to have flowers then leave 1/3 of the old stems on the plant.

This plant has a fibrous root system which is easy to transplant, and is drought tolerant but can be damaged by deer.

It has many cultivars but the flowers are often sacrificed for the interesting foliage color in these cases.

Quick ID Hints:

• Shrub with alternate, simple, purplish leaves with parallel veins
• Inflorescence is panicles of smoky pink flowers
• Leaves with radish orod when broken
• Leaves green or reddish-purple

Blooms early to mid-summer, male is showier, unique wispy smoke look when flowering. Fall foliage is reddish-purple. In summer, a broken leaf smells like a radish. 

Prefers well-drained soil but is adaptable to wide range of pH, prefers sun. Pest/disease free.