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Cotinus obovatus

chittamwood

© RHS 2002
Sold by 10 nurseries

  • Other common names chittamwood
    American smokewood

  • Synonyms Cotinus americanus

  • Family Anacardiaceae

  • Genus Cotinus are large deciduous shrubs or small trees with simple, obovate leaves often colouring well in autumn, and insignificant flowers borne in large, plumy panicles in summer becoming colourful in fruit

  • Details C. obovatus is a vigorous large deciduous shrub with large rounded leaves opening purplish-pink, later green; turning orange, red and purple in autumn. Flowers pinkish in a plume to 30cm in length

  • Plant range SE North America

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Bushy

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or North-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Exposed or Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureWell-drained, Moist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 4-8 metres

  • Ultimate spread 4-8 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 10-20 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in well-drained soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types Low Maintenance

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 1

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Susceptible to verticillium wilt

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