European Smoketree
(Cotinus coggygria)
European Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria)
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Alexander Dunkel
CC BY-SA 2.5
Image By:
Alexander Dunkel
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY-SA 2.5
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Alexander Dunkel | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.5 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 | Uploader: Gromhelm~commonswiki | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Cotinus_coggygria5.jpg | Notes: |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Cotinus coggygria, commonly known as European Smoketree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree with multiple branching and an open, spreading, irregular habit. It is native to rocky hillsides and open woodlands of Southern and Eastern Europe, the Himalayas, and East Asia, where it thrives on well-drained soils. Typically, it grows to 5–7 m (16–23 ft) tall. The leaves are 3–8 cm long, rounded ovals, green with a waxy glaucous sheen, turning to a mix of peach, yellow, and scarlet in autumn. The flowers, which bloom in summer, are numerous and small, about 5–10 mm in diameter with five pale yellow petals, forming large inflorescences 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) long. Most flowers abort, developing into feathery plumes that create a ’smoke-like’ effect, giving the plant its common name.
The European Smoketree is valued for its striking fall foliage and the unique, fluffy appearance of its flower plumes. It is used in gardens and landscapes as a specimen plant, for mass plantings, or as a dramatic backdrop. It adapts well to urban environments due to its tolerance of a range of soil types and drainage conditions, though it prefers full sun for optimal flowering and fall color. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to verticillium wilt and should not be overwatered. Pruning can be done to maintain shape and promote denser foliage.CC BY-SA 4.0
The European Smoketree is valued for its striking fall foliage and the unique, fluffy appearance of its flower plumes. It is used in gardens and landscapes as a specimen plant, for mass plantings, or as a dramatic backdrop. It adapts well to urban environments due to its tolerance of a range of soil types and drainage conditions, though it prefers full sun for optimal flowering and fall color. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to verticillium wilt and should not be overwatered. Pruning can be done to maintain shape and promote denser foliage.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub, Tree
- Height: 10-15 feet
- Width: 10-15 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Pink, Purple
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Rocky hillsides and open woodlands
Other Names
Common Names: Eurasian Smoketree , Smoke Bush , Fustet , Venetian Sumach , Dyer’s Sumach , Young Fustic , Smokebush , Smoketree , Wigtree , Common Smoketree
Scientific Names: Cotinus coggygria , Rhus simplicifolia , Rhus cotinus , Rhus velutina , Cotinus coggygria f. atropurpureus , Cotinus cotinus , Cotinus velutina , Cotinus arenaria , Cotinus cinerea , Cotinus coggygria f. pendulus
GBIF Accepted Name: Cotinus coggygria Scop.