Cotinus

July 2, 2024

Smoke bushes, Cotinus, are among my favorite of small trees - they have superlative color, appealing form, and look excellent in the gardens.

I have many smoke bushes around my Bedford, New York farm - paired with London plane trees in an allée through a hay field, in the sunken garden behind my Summer House, around my pool, in the beds outside my Tenant House where my daughter and grandchildren stay when they visit, and near the front entrance to the property where family and friends can see their beauty right away.

Here are some photos, enjoy.

: This time of year, many of the Cotinus bushes around my farm are covered with fluffy, hazy, smoke-like puffs.

: Cotinus, the smoketree or smoke bush, is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, closely related to the sumacs. It has an upright habit when young and spreads wider with age.

: They have rich colored foliage in dark purple or bright green.

: The leaves of the smoke bush are about one-and-a-half to three inches long and ovate, or oval like, in shape.

: Here, these leaves have turned a beautiful deep dusky purple color.

: The name “smoke bush” comes from the 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.

: These smoke bushes are near the front of my home, where guests can see them when they arrive.

: These colorful tufts extend from the foliage and can be seen from afar.

: Cotinus prefer full sun and well-draining soil, but some varieties can tolerate dappled shade. Growth rates also vary, but fast-growing varieties can add three to five feet per year.

: This smoke bush is planted in the garden outside my Tenant House. Smoke bushes do well in almost any soil type and most any pH level. The ideal circumstance is slightly sandy loam, but they can thrive in rocky soils.

: In colder climates, where winter winds can damage the plants, it’s also a good idea to plant smoke bushes where they can be protected. When grouping plants, they should be well spaced to give them enough room to grow.

: This smoke bush is on one side of my Summer House garden terrace.

: This one in the back of the Summer House garden is showing off brilliant light colored puffs.

: These fine, feathery clusters remain attractive for many weeks from now to fall.

: I also have smoke bushes surrounding my pool on one side of the fence.

: Alternating are Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ and Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’. These have done so well here – they disguise the fence completely.

: Here’s a close look at one of the delicate “smoke” clusters. In some areas, the tree is also called Wig Tree because of these puffs.

: And in the middle field, an allée of smoke bushes paired with tall London plane trees.

: I planted this allée in 2019. All 100 smoke bushes are thriving.

: And look at the new growth. Remember the gardener’s adage, “sleep, creep, leap” which describes how perennials grow over the first three years. These smoke bushes are now well-established and thriving.