Smoke Trees

Add Mystique to the Garden Display!

he middle of July comes with several pleasures each year. Lilies and Daylilies blossom then. Many other plants blossom at this time as well. Among them is the smoke bush, or Cotinus coggyria. With its profuse, feathery blossoms, the smoke bush adds mystique to the landscape.

We have three varieties of smoketree available: Common, Nordine and royal purple. They all have an upright, spreading growth habit. The common smoke tree will reach a mature height of approximately 10-15 feet. With silvery pink flower plumes and plain green foliage, a common smoke tree can add flair to a landscape while fitting with almost any color scheme. The foliage turns reddish-purple in the fall.

Both Nordine and Royal Purple varieties of smoke tree have maroon colored foliage and purplish pink flower plumes. Nordine smoke trees have a silver colored bark, making them more distinctive. Both varieties can reach a mature height of 8-10 feet. The royal purple smoke tree does best in full sun, but all varieties will perform in partial shade.

With our cold winter climates, smoke trees tend to suffer from dieback, especially after a harsh winter. However, smoke trees are vigorous growers and recover quickly. In sheltered areas, the dieback will be less pronounced.