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Cotinus coggygria (Smoke tree, Venetian sumac)

Cotinus coggygria Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken


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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Botanical Name: Cotinus coggygria koe-TY-nus koe-GIG-ree-ah Common Name: Smoke tree, Venetian sumac Synonyms: Rhus cotinus Genus: Cotinus
This bushy shrub or small tree has generated many notable cultivars, all of which add great textural qualities to the landscape. It has 6-inch-long frothy plumes that appear after the flowers and give a long-lasting, smoky haze to branch tips. Its green leaves are smooth and rounded and produce brilliant fall color.
 Noteworthy characteristics: Cotinus are outstanding specimens in a shrub border, and are a great choice for massing or for hedges. They need minimal pruning to maintain a healthy framework, or alternately, may be coppiced to produce large, dramatic foliage on varieties with colorful foliage (this is at the expense of generous flowering). 
 Care: Grows best in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, but is tolerant of alkaline soils, moist, clay soils, dry, rocky soils, and drought.
 Propagation: Sow seed in autumn, layer in spring, and take softwood cuttings in summer.
 Problems: Verticillium wilt.
Height 10 ft. to 15 ft.
Spread 10 ft. to 15 ft.
Growth Pace Moderate Grower
Light Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture Adaptable
Maintenance Moderate
Tolerance Drought Tolerant
Characteristics Showy Fall Foliage; Showy Seed Heads
Bloom Time Early Summer; Late Summer; Summer
Flower Color Green Flower; Yellow Flower
Uses , Beds and Borders, Flowering Tree, Hedge, Specimen Plant/ Focal Point
Seasonal Interest , Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Type ,Shrubs

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