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How to grow smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria)
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Published: Tuesday, 3 December 2024 at 5:05 pm
Find out how to grow smoke bush, Cotinus coggygria, in our detailed Grow Guide.
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Plant Size:
Height: 400
Spread: 400
Cotinus is famously known as the ‘smoke bush’, for its hazy plumes of pink summer flowers that really do resemble clouds of soft smoke. However, it’s the oval-shaped foliage of these shrubs that makes a really dramatic statement. There's a range of cultivars with leaf colour ranging from apple green through to purple, and they all share characteristically brilliant autumn colouring, with a fiery display of yellow, red and deep scarlet. Smoke bushes are mostly quite large shrubs or small trees, many reaching around 4m x 4m, but there are smaller cultivars available, and hard pruning in early spring can help manage the size of these larger varieties.
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How to grow smoke bush
Grow smoke bush in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade (the purple-leaved varieties do best in full sun). Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or leaf mould in spring. Smoke bush requires little or no pruning, but can benefit from a hard prune in late winter to early spring, which helps control the shape and size of the bush, and also generates larger leaves.
Growing smoke bush: jump links
- Planting smoke bush
- Caring for smoke bush
- Propagating smoke bush
- Growing smoke bush: problem-solving
- Best smoke bushes to grow
Where to grow smoke bush
Cotinus coggygria in a border
All cotinus varieties need well-drained, fertile soil and a spot in a border in full sun or partial shade. Purple-leaved smoke bushes produce the best leaf colour if grown in full sun.
How to plant smoke bush
Cotinus coggygria in autumn. Getty Images
Plant pot-grown cotinus in autumn, adding a generous spadeful of well-rotted manure to the planting hole.
How to plant smoke bush in a pot
Smoke bush can thrive in containers. Choose a dwarf variety such as 'Lilla', and use a pot with a diameter of around 35cm.
Fill halfway with a peat-free, loam-based compost such as John Innes number 3, then position the rootball, ensuring the top sits just below the rim of the pot, so it's growing at the same depth it was previously. Back-fill with compost and firm around the rootball gently. Water and allow to drain.
How to care for your smoke bush
Cotinus coggygria are easy shrubs to care for. Water well until the plant becomes established, and then there shouldn't be any need to water unless conditions are very dry. Smoke bush benefits from a generous helping of home-made compost, well-rotted manure or leaf mould in spring.
When to prune smoke bush
Smoke bush don’t need much pruning, but if you want to encourage bushy new growth with larger than average leaves, cut the stems back hard, to just 20-25cm off the ground, from late-winter to early spring. This will also help manage the overall size and shape of your smoke bush, especially if growing in a pot.
How to propagate Cotinus coggygria
Propagating Cotinus coggygria
Propagate smoke bush by taking softwood cuttings in summer.
- How to take softwood cuttings
Problem solving
Cotinus coggygria are generally not plagued by pests and diseases – they can succumb to verticillium wilt, a fungal disease borne in the soil, which can cause dieback and affects the foliage. If your cotinus is affected, it's hard to treat and the best approach is to remove and destroy the plant, taking care not to disturb the soil too much as this can spread the fungus. Don’t replant cotinus in the same spot.
Advice on buying smoke bush
- There's a variety of smoke bushes to choose from, including those with purple leaves, bright green leaves, and compact varieties suited to growing in pots. Make sure you pick the right one for you
- Common varieties are available from garden centres and other plant retailers, while lesser known varieties will be available to buy online
- Always check plants for signs of damage or disease before buying
Where to buy smoke bush online
Cotinus coggygria varieties to try
Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit'
- Cotinus ‘Grace’ – this classic smoke bush has purple leaves that put on a spectacular show in autumn as they change colour to orangey red. It has a mass of purple-pink frothy flowers in summer. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Height x Spread: 6m x 4m
- Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ – the deep purple leaves turn brilliant red-orange before dropping in autumn. H x S: 4m x 4m
- Cotinus coggygria ‘Young Lady’ – this slow-growing dwarf variety has huge plumes of smokey-pink flowers and dark green leaves in summer. The leaves turn red and orange in autumn. It’s a good choice for smaller gardens. H x S: 1.5m x 1.5m
- Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’ – this is an unusual golden-leaved cultivar. The young foliage is yellow with hints of red, turning fiery orange in autumn. The flowers appearing in June and July are a smoky yellow. H x S: 2.4m x 2m
- Cotinus 'Candy Floss' – this large shrub has bronzy young leaves, turning green in summer and shades of yellow, orange, and purple in autumn. Large fluffy pink flower 1plumes appear in summer. H x S: 4m x 4m
- Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ – this large shrub puts on a great show with the deep purple leaves turning rich red in autumn. The fluffy pink plumes in summer really do look like clouds of smoke. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). H x S: 5m x 5m
Frequently asked questions
How big does a smoke bush grow?
Most smoke bushes can grow to around 4m in height. although can be kept smaller by pruning. Dwarf smoke bushes reach heights of around 1.2m.
Is smoke bush toxic?
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Smoke bush isn't toxic but may cause mild skin irritation for some people.
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