Cotinus coggygria Velvet Cloak (Smokebush)

Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak' (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 red-purple in summer, before turning carmine red in fall. Large, feathery, purplish-pink flower plumes cover the plant with fluffy, hazy 'smoky' puffs in 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.

• 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