Deciduous Shrubs – Smoke Bush

SMOKE BUSH

Botanical name: cotinus coggygria 

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity: up to 10 ft in height and 13 ft in width 

Bloom time: spring/summer

Hardy zone: zones 5-11 

Flower color: pink/red

Foliage color: green/red/purple/brown 

Growth rate: 1-2 ft per year 

Pruning instructions: prune after flowering to promote more new blooms for next season

Propagation methods: cutting or layering 

Landscape use: ornamental shrub, borders 

Light needs: 6 hours of sun per day 

Special features: deer resistant, heat resistant, commonly used for natural color dying, disease resistant 

Watering instructions: requires moderate watering and consistently moist soil but can tolerate some dryness 

Fertilizing instructions : apply a slow release fertilizer once a year in the early spring 

Best time to plant: spring or autumn 

Best type of soil: loam/sand 

Companion plants: lavender, yarrow, black-eyed susan 

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans but toxic for pets if ingested

Invasive species: no