Cotinus coggygria Golden Spirit (Smokebush)

Award-winner Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit' (Smokebush) is a bushy deciduous shrub noted for its attractive foliage of almost circular leaves. Emerging fresh chartreuse in spring, the leaves mature to golden yellow in summer, before turning glowing shades of coral pink, red, and orange in fall. Appearing in mid-summer, large, feathery, pinkish-white flower plumes cover the plant with fluffy, hazy 'smoky' puffs throughout early fall. When viewed en masse, these have a wispy 'smoke-like' appearance, hence the common name of Smoketree or Smokebush. A spectacular accent shrub with a very long season of interest. The foliage makes a stunning addition to cut flower arrangements and lasts well in the vase.

• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows with an upright and open, multiple-branching habit, up to 8 ft. tall (240 cm) and 6 ft. wide (180 cm).
• Performs best in full sun or part shade, in average, medium, well-drained soils. Best leaf coloration is obtained in full sun. Smoketree is not fussy about soils provided they are not soggy or wet. Good drainage is essential. Poor, rocky soils are tolerated. Keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season and apply a 1-2 in. (3-5 cm) layer of mulch to help retain moisture. Drought tolerant, once established.
• Virtually pest and disease free, however, watch for verticillium wilt. Deer tolerant.
• Smoketree is an excellent choice as a single specimen plant, massed in shrub borders, or as an informal hedge or privacy screen.
• Cut back hard in late winter or early spring to promote the growth of new shoots and enhance the lovely leaf coloration of purple-leaved varieties. Note that such hard pruning, while controlling the plant's size, will be done at the expense of abundant flowering.
• Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings