One of the most talked about, if not the most complimented plant at the Wilson Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 1806 S. Goldsboro Street, is Cotinus coggygria, Common Smoketree or Smokebush. It is hard to believe Smoketree has not been featured as a plant of the month before now.

Smoketree typically has purple foliage although green varieties are available. Since I personally feel our gardens lack purple foliage I of course recommend the purple cultivars. The leaves are oval in shape and smell like a radish if crushed. It leafs out rather late, in April or May and can have fall color but is not a reliable trait.

Smoketree gets around 10-15 feet in height and width. In England, they prune Smoketrees down to the ground each year to get more brilliant purple foliage. I recommend this practice and have been doing this for the past few years. Within the growing season mine still reach the 10 feet height. The habit of the plant is upright, spreading, loose and open. Typically grown as a multi-stemmed shrub.

The flower is yellowish and borne in June. The real show is when the flowers turns hairy and goes through color changes until they are a smokey pink. They effect lasts into September. This is where the common name comes from, the flowers looking like tufts of smoke.

Smoketree can be grown in a wide range of soils and pH levels, even in rocky and dry soils. It does prefer well-drained loam and a sunny exposure. Smoketree is probably best grown in mass or groupings although is typically seen as a single specimen.

Smoketree is not prone to any diseases or insects but rust, leafspot, leaf rollers, scale and Verticillium have been reported.

Many cultivars are available such as 'Follis Purpureis' with purple leaves when young maturing to purple-green. Inflorescences are pinkish. 'Royal Purple' is more commonly located with rich maroon-red foliage and darkens to a purplish black. More compact growth habit. Inflorescences are a purple-red.

Seedlings will have an array of purple and green foliage. Seed requires 30-60 minutes of acid followed by 3 months of 41 degrees F. Cuttings root best in June. So purchasing a plant seems to be well worth it verses the trouble of seed propagation.

The Wilson Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street, is open from dawn until dusk. For more gardening information please check out my web site at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wilson/staff/clauderd/index.html. This web site has all the plant of the month's with pictures. Come visit the garden!

Home gardening questions can be answered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 until 3 PM by calling 237-0113 and speaking to a Master Gardener.

Date Created: 10/08/03.

Update: 5/4/2004