Cotinus (/ koʊˈtaɪnəs / [2]), the smoketree or smoke bush, is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, closely related to the sumacs (Rhus). The drought-tolerant smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria) is often used as an anchor in gardens. Keep reading to learn how to care for these billowy bushes.

Understanding the Context

To answer the first question, smokebush (Cotinus) is the same plant as smoketree, and often written as “smoke bush.” This large, deciduous shrub can be trained as a small tree and grows 12 to 15 inches tall with an equal spread. Learn all about cotinus - choose the best ones to grow, where to buy, where to plant and care advice from RHS experts. Cotinus coggygria, commonly known as smoketree, is an upright, loose-spreading, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that is native from southern Europe to central China. Cotinus are large, hardy, deciduous flowering shrubs with attractive, rounded green, purple or gold leaves and feathery flower plumes in summer.

Key Insights

The common name of smoke bush or smoke tree is inspired by the wispy character of its flowers. Most cotinus have excellent autumn colour. Cotinus: smoke bush shrubs to grow for autumn colour | Gardens Illustrated Discover how to grow and care for Cotinus, the stunning smoke bush. This guide covers planting, pruning, varieties, and troubleshooting for this versatile garden shrub.