Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple (Smokebush)

Award-winner Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' (Smokebush) is a bushy large deciduous shrub noted for its attractive foliage of rounded leaves. Emerging rich maroon-red in spring, the leaves mature to deep wine purple in summer, before turning redder in fall. Appearing in late spring, large, feathery, pink flower plumes cover the plant with fluffy, hazy 'smoky' puffs throughout summer. 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.

• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows with an upright and open, multiple-branching habit, up to 10-15 ft. tall (300-450 cm) and 15-20 ft. wide (450-600 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