Purple Smoke Tree

Purple smoke tree

Moderate growing; reaches 15 ft. tall, 10 to 12 ft. wide. Dark foliage, smoky blooms, and warm fall colors make this an excellent addition to the garden.

How fast does a purple smoke tree grow?

The purple smoke tree grows moderately fast. The Arbor Day Foundation defines this as vertical growth of 13 to 24 inches per year.

Are purple smoke trees poisonous?

Caution: This plant is poisonous to humans if ingested. Handling this plant may also cause skin irritations.

Is there a difference between a smoke bush and a smoke tree?

Smoke bush, also known as smoke tree, is a deciduous shrub; the multi-stemmed plant can actually be grown as a larger shrub or even smaller tree.

Does purple smoke bush lose leaves in winter?

The Royal Purple smoke tree is a deciduous species, meaning that you can expect it to lose its leaves every fall. While this makes for a bare plant during the winter, the fall foliage display of a Royal Purple smoke tree can be impressive.

What is the lifespan of a smoke tree?

It has a mature height of 15-30 ft. and should survive for at least 60 years. It is described as hardy and adaptable to many adverse soil conditions. It grows best in full sun and alkaline soil but can tolerate partial shade, slightly acidic soil, and compacted soil.

Are smoke trees poisonous to dogs?

The smoke tree is one of the dog friendly plants for yard and it's great for creating a shrub border. This is one of the greatest plants for pets and it's very convenient because it adapts well to a wide range of soils.

Can smoke tree be kept small?

Despite the common name of smoke tree, cotinus naturally grows as a large shrub, reaching 15 ft. high and wide, arching to the ground if left unpruned. But because it is amenable to all kinds of sculpting, it's possible to create a smaller shrub or a small tree.

Are smoke trees hard to grow?

These puffs of flower 'smoke' adorn the tree through to late summer. It is an attractive shrub (or tree) that is easy to grow and care for. The hardy smoketree grows in zones 4 to 9. As an accent deciduous plant with changing foliage colour, it looks attractive in a mixed summer garden border with evergreens.

Can you keep a purple smoke bush small?

Since smoke bush blooms on the previous year's growth, hold off on any major pruning until after summer flowering. Plants can also be kept smaller by cutting them back hard to the ground. This will promote new vertical shoots with larger leaves and enhanced foliage coloration.

How quickly does a smoke tree grow?

Growth Rate This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.

Can you trim a royal purple smoke tree?

If you prefer the deep purple foliage and do not care for the flowers and plumes, you may consider pruning Royal Purple Smokebush to the ground each spring, allowing new growth to shoot upwards with healthy, vigorous leaves.

Do smoke trees need to be pruned?

In general, this plant is a”specimen” type plant that will need some pruning. Pruning is very important to the overall look of the plant because it grows in a rather erratic pattern. Only prune in early spring before the plant leafs out.

Should I trim my smoke bush?

If you're more interested in keeping your smoke bush shorter so you can appreciate its colorful foliage close up, then you should cut the stems back in winter. You can leave just 6 to 8 inches of the stubby branches emerging from the ground.

How do you prune a purple smoke tree?

As you can see we didn't really pay that much attention to this before. So we just have growth

Can you prune purple smoke bush?

Pruning Smoke Bush Cotinus can be vigorous growers, but they respond well to be pruned back very hard. Pruning will encourage the brilliant dark purple new growth of the purple-leaved cultivars such as 'Grace'. If grown as a multi-stemmed bush, they can be pruned almost to the base.

Does a smoke bush like sun or shade?

The smoke bush needs well-drained, fertile soil and a spot in a border in full sun or partial shade. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or leaf mould in spring. It requires little or no pruning.

How do you winterize a smoke bush?

Like all other landscape plants, Smoketree/shrub (Cotinus) will benefit from a bit of maintenance on your part before winter arrives. Collect all plant debris as it falls and continue watering, if needed, into the fall. Sufficient moisture is essential going into the winter months. Avoid over-feeding with this plant.

How do you maintain a smoke tree?

Water. Young plants should be watered deeply and regularly twice a week, but once established, smoke bush has good resistance to drought and dry conditions. Mature plants can thrive nicely if watered moderately every 10 days during the active growing season.

Do smoke trees have deep roots?

Ideal Smoketree Culture This tree has a shallow, finely branched, fibrous root system, making it quite tolerant of dry spells. It needs excellent drainage and can suffer when grown in a location that tends to stay wet or soggy for long periods, a situation that might promote root rot.