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The summer wildfire season is upon us. If you have notice a few wispy plumes rising above some small trees or shrubs in your neighborhood, don't call the fire department. It not a smoking tree, it is just a smoke tree.
Smoke tree or smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria) is a deciduous shrub/tree that grows 10-15 feet high and spreads about as wide. It gets it Latin name Cotinus: from kotinos which is the Greek name for the olive and coggygria from kokkugia, the Greek name.
The common name of smoke tree comes from the showy pubescent pedicels and peduncles of flowers. As the large feathery flowers bloom and finally dry they provide the "smoke" appearance. The clouds of smoke have an enchanting look and can last from mid-July until fall dormancy.
The smoke tree is a rounded, somewhat bush-looking tree with leaves that are any where from a green to a purple color during summer months. In the fall months, the leaves will turn a yellow to a reddish color. During both seasons you will see soft fluffy plumes that stick out of the smoke tree giving it a softer look.
These plumes often show a different color than the leaves on the plant. The plumes waft heavenward showing pink, purple, light tan or even a light shade of red. This gives the plants a soft ethereal look as they peak out from between the leaves.
The leaves add a further exciting dimension to the plants. Their significant color and interesting leaf textures grace your garden with even more beauty.
The plant is native to southern Europe to central China and the Himalayas. Fortunately, it loves the sun and tolerates light shade. It is a very tough plant because it tolerates a wide range of soils including high pH soils that are so prevalent in Utah.
If your soil is poorly drained, add some coarse organic matter to improve the drainage. Avoid excessive fertilization, because too much fertilizer makes the tree growing taller and fuller, but at the expense of fewer flowers.
The plant will grow several feet each year but slower growth is actually better to allow for this plant to become established and produce larger and showier flowers. Plants that grow too tall get leggy looking as they age.
If you are growing the plant as a shrub, consider cutting them back to the ground every two to three years. This promotes new growth and retains the compact shape. Tree forms are prune to shape but they to need some renewal pruning to keep them blooming well.
The plant drought tolerance is another bonus for local gardeners. Like all drought tolerate plants it needs water for the few years to become well established. It is hardy in Utah to USDA zone five so readers in the high mountain valleys need to make another selection.
There are a number of varieties of smoke tree. They are divided into those with green leaves, those with purple or red leaves and those with golden or yellow leaves.
The American smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus) is native to the southeastern United States, from Tennessee south to Alabama and west to eastern Texas. It is not hardy in Utah.
It is a larger tree growing 35 feet tall and with a trunk up to 10 inches. The leaves are also larger, and it has varied but very bright fall color. The flower heads are usually sparser than in C. coggygria. There are some garden hybrid selections of C. coggygria and C. obovatus but they might not be fully hardy here.
While they might not be fireworks, these smoking trees are a delight for any garden. With the many cultivars available, you are certain to find one to delight you.
Larry A. Sagers
Horticulture Specialist
Utah State University Extension
Thanksgiving Point Office
