Best smoke bush (Cotinus) cultivars

*Cotinus coggygria* -- smoke bush or smoke tree -- is a large deciduous shrub or small tree native to southern Europe and Asia, grown primarily for its summer display of billowing, hair-like inflorescences (the "smoke") and, in purple-foliaged cultivars, for persistent deep burgundy foliage.

Cotinus coggygria — smoke bush or smoke tree — is a large deciduous shrub or small tree native to southern Europe and Asia, grown primarily for its summer display of billowing, hair-like inflorescences (the "smoke") and, in purple-foliaged cultivars, for persistent deep burgundy foliage throughout the growing season. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, it is hardy in zones 4—9 and grows 10—15 feet tall and wide in the absence of pruning, though many gardeners cut it back hard each spring to maintain a foliage-focused shrub of 3—6 feet.

The native American species, Cotinus obovatus (American smoketree), is a large tree (20—30 ft) with excellent fall color (orange to scarlet-red) but less showy "smoke" display. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, it is rarely available in the nursery trade.

How the smoke display works

The "smoke" is not flowers per se but elongated pedicels (flower stalks) with hair-like filaments that persist after the tiny flowers drop. Per NC State Extension, the plumes develop from June through September and turn pink to purple-gray as the season progresses, creating the characteristic smoke effect. They form on stems that grew the previous season — meaning hard annual pruning removes them entirely.