Cotinus coggygria Purpureus Group

RHS Plant Profile

smoke tree Purpureus Group

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Synonyms

Cotinus coggygria 'Atropurpureus', Cotinus coggygria 'Purpureus', Cotinus coggygria f. purpureus, Cotinus coggygria var. purpureus, Rhus cotinus 'Atropurpurea'

Shrubs

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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

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
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): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Anacardiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: 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