Smoke Tree
Cotinus Obovatus
Page 2
Smoke Tree,
Smoke Bush, Smoketree, Smokebush, American Smoke Tree |
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The Cotinus Obovatus
is a larger plant, frequently becoming a small tree up to 10-12 m tall and with
a trunk up to 25 cm diameter. The leaves are also larger, 6-13 cm long; it also
has varied but very bright fall color, usually brighter than the Eurasian
species. The flower heads are usually sparser than in Cotinus Coggygria.
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Cultivation and uses
The smoketrees, are popular garden
shrubs. Several bronze or purple-leaved cultivars have been selected, with warm
pink inflorescences set against purple-black foliage. |
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The commonest variety in commerce are Notcutt's Variety and Royal Purple.
When brought into cultivation together, the
two species will form hybrids; some garden cultivars
are of this parentage. |
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Cultivation is best in dry, infertile
soils, which keeps the growth habit more compact and also improves the autumn
color; when planted in fertile soil, they become large, coarse and also tend to
be short-lived, succumbing to verticillium wilt disease. Both species can be
coppiced in early spring, to produce first-year shoots up to 2 m tall with large
handsome leaves, but no "smoke".
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