Smoketree at Memorial Cemetery Park |
Showy, tough, & compact, the Common Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria) is bound to catch your eye from late May
through July. My grandson calls it the
cotton candy tree. The unique smoke effect is caused by the 6 to 8 inch hairs
(pubescence) on the flower stalks (pedicles), not the flowers. In fact, the 1/3 inch, five -petaled yellow
flowers are rarely noticed.
Adaptable to various soils types, this drought tolerant and
deer resistant tree thrives in locations with full sun and good drainage. Its resistance to most diseases is another
asset. The common smoketree makes a colorful impact when it’s planted in masses,
and can be used as an accent or focal point.
Smoketree form |
The multi-stemmed upright form of
this 12- 15 ft. tree can be rounded or open. Young trees have smooth brownish
purple stems, while older tree develop light gray bark. The alternate, simple,
bluish- green obovate leaves appear later than other leaves. The long 1.5 inch
petioles are often the same length as the leaf which ranges from 1.5 to 3.5
inches. Fall foliage can range from
medium yellow to reddish –purple.
Originally from Southern Europe to Eastern Asia, the
smoketree has flourished in U.S zones 5 -8 since the late 19th
century. Several cultivars, many with descriptive
names like ‘Black Velvet’, ‘Golden Spirit ’, and ‘Royal Purple’ have been
developed from the Common Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria). The award winning ‘Grace,’
a hybrid of C. coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak x C. obovatus, was developed in 1978. With massive pink pubescence and leaves that turn from red, to blue green
to reddish orange & yellow in the fall, ‘Grace’ reaches a height of 20 ft. The smoketree should be at its best in June
and can be seen at Dixon Gardens and the Memphis Botanic Garden.
Cotinus coggygria 'Grace' |
---Jan Castillo
That looks like Cotinus Obovatus.
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