Cotinus coggygria Purpureus Group
smoke tree Purpureus Group
A large, bushy deciduous shrub with large, rounded dark royal purple foliage. Large, pinkish feathery plumes of flowers, which look like smoke, appear in summer
Synonyms
Rhus cotinus 'Atropurpurea'Cotinus coggygria 'Atropurpureus'
see moreCotinus coggygria 'Purpureus'
Cotinus coggygria var. purpureus
Cotinus coggygria f. purpureus
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink | Purple | ||
| Autumn | Purple | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Anacardiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy, Spreading branched
- 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
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
GGrows well in most well-drained fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Leaf colour and flowering may be poor in deep shade and may struggle in very wet or very dry soil. See Cotinus for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Pruning group 1, but responds well to renovative pruning where older plants have become overgrown in late winter or early spring
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), verticillium wilt and powdery mildews in dry conditions
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.