Smoke bush / smoke tree
Cotinus coggygria
Smoke bush / smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 10–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Smoky pink flower-fluff in summer; brilliant burgundy/red fall color. Purple-foliaged cultivars are popular.
low to medium water10–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Cotinus coggygria
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Royal Purple', 'Golden Spirit', 'Grace'
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 10–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.8
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- pink
- Bloom time
- early summer
- Pollinator value
- low
Planting & establishment
Water weekly first summer. Sharp drainage is critical.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Smoke bush / smoke tree good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Smoke bush / smoke tree is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Smoke bush / smoke tree get?
- It matures to about 10–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide.
- How much water does Smoke bush / smoke tree need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Smoke bush / smoke tree native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
