Botanical Name: Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
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Common Name: Royal Purple Smoketree  
Plant photo of: Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

 

Height Range

12-25'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Purple

 

Bark Color

Grey

 

Fruit Color

Pink, Purple

 

Fruit Season

Summer, Fall

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Fast, Moderate

 

Soil Type

Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Japanese, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Native Garden, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color, Multi-trunk Tree, Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Entry, Shrub Border, Foundation, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Hedge, Screen

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Don Syrek

  • Description

  • Notes

Royal Purple Smoke Tree is a large deciduous shrub or small tree with handsome, oval purple leaves all summer which turn scarlet in the fall. The flowers are yellowish and not very showy, but they are followed by clouds of pinkish-purple seed heads from mid summer into fall. This striking shrub prefers full sun and low amount of watering once it's established. This shrub grows 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. A lovely shrub for massing or as an accent.
Smoke trees prefer full sun to maintain the great purple color for which the shrub is grown. Shearing makes it woody, so prune selectively or renovate it in late winter. See the how-to's. Requires well drained soil.