How to Grow a Smoketree
It's called the common smoketree (Cotinus coggygria), but there's really nothing common about it. Imagine a shrub with billowing clouds of tiny yellow blooms tipping the end of long hairs on delicate stalks. Its unique blooms give the shrub a smoky appearance from early to mid summer. The shrub's fall covering's equally as impressive. Follow these easy tips to plant this uncommonly beautiful shrub. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Select a planting location. The smoketree is hardy in Zones 5 through 8 and adapts to many soil types. The shrub must have good drainage and full sun or partial shade is preferred. It is an excellent choice for a specimen plant growing to 15 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide.
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Prepare the shrub for planting. Smoketree may be purchased containerized or balled-and-burlapped from nurseries or garden centers. Cut all twine and wire from the branches and rootball. Trim the burlap to half the height of the rootball. If planting is delayed after purchase, keep the shrub well-watered.
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Dig the planting hole. After clearing the planting site of weeds and debris, dig the planting hole 2 to 3 times the width of the shrub's rootball. The hole must be as deep as the rootball or the container in which it was growing. When planted, the top of the rootball must be even with the surrounding ground.
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Position the shrub. Secure the smoketree by adding a small portion of the original soil around the base of the rootball. "Water in" the shrub by filling the planting hole with water and allowing the rootball and surrounding soil to absorb. Backfill the remaining soil and water again thoroughly.
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Dress the planting area. Mulching or "dressing" the site helps to minimize maintenance and gives a finished touch to the garden. If mulching is desired, take care not to cover the crown of the shrub. Covering the crown increases the shrub's susceptibility to crown rot and rodent damage. Spread a layer of mulch 2 to 4 inches deep around the planting area.
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Tips & Warnings
The simple, oval leaves of the common smoketree are medium blue-green in summer, but turn various shades of yellow, red and purple in fall.
Check with your local nurseries and garden centers for available cultivars and varieties. The purple smoketree (Cotinus purpureus) has purple flowers and leaves that begin purple but turn dark green as they age. 'Royal purple' has dark maroon leaves all season long.
The common smoketree is a rounded, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with medium growth. In southern zones it can be considered to be a herbaceous perennial.
The smoketree requires little maintenance. Infrequent deep watering is recommended. Prune dead or broken branches in spring.
