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Cotinus 'Candy Floss'

smokewood 'Candy Floss'

A large, bushy, upright, deciduous shrub with oval leaves which emerge bronze in the spring, maturing to a fresh green then turning shades of yellow, orange, red and purple in the autumn. From the middle of summer, hazy clouds of pink flowers appear which look like clouds of smoke from a distance, hence the common name given as 'Smoke Bush'. A very versatile shrub with lots of foliage and flower colour and interest throughout the spring, summer and autumn months.

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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
10–20 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Bronze
Summer Pink Green
Autumn Yellow Red Purple Orange
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Anacardiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
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

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade; for best leaf colour grow in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by layering in late winter or early spring or root softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Bedding
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning group 1 or pruning group 7 to produce large foliage

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), verticillium wilt and powdery mildews in dry conditions

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