Does it need pruning?

Pruning is optional but helps maintain a compact shape or encourages vibrant new foliage.

Why is it called smoke bush?

The feathery, sterile flower stalks look like puffs of smoke covering the plant.

Plant guide

Purple Smokebush.

Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

Pronounced ko-TY-nus ko-GY-gree-uh

Also known as Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', European smoketree, Smoke-Tree, Smoke-bush, Venetian Sumac, Venetian-sumac, Wig tree, fustet

The purple smokebush is a stunning shrub known for its smoky, cloudlike flower clusters. It brings deep color to the landscape with its rich, dark foliage. This plant is a fantastic choice for adding texture and drama to your garden.

Another photo of Purple Smokebush — Photo by Jason Grant (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 4 to 5 meters
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Plant in well draining soil and provide plenty of sun to keep the leaf color vibrant. Prune in late winter to encourage new growth and maintain a tidy shape. Watch for signs of verticillium wilt, like sudden wilting or branch dieback.

Watering: Water deeply once established, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between sessions.
Feeding: Apply a balanced slow release fertilizer in early spring.
Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to shape and encourage dense foliage.
Repotting: Repot young plants every few years if they become root bound.
Soil: Well draining, loamy soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -25 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 20 to 30 years.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Stunted growth despite regular care.

Safety

People: The sap can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The plant is not inherently dangerous, but ingestion of any part should be avoided.
Contact allergens: Contact with the sap may cause dermatitis in some people.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is generally not considered a major allergen.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

Deep purple or reddish foliage
Feathery, smoke like flower panicles
Rounded, alternate leaves
Scarlet to reddish purple fall color

Height: 3 to 4.5m
Spread: 3 to 4.5m
Leaves: green, purple, burgundy, deciduous
Flowers: pink, beige, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

Leaf SpotCommon
Verticillium WiltCommon
AphidsUncommon
Powdery MildewUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your purple smokebush from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed, layering
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It is quite hardy, but young plants may benefit from a layer of mulch around the base to protect roots from extreme temperature fluctuations.
In containers: It can grow in large containers, but ensure the pot is at least 20 gallons to accommodate its root system.

Softwood cuttings

Take 4 to 6 inch cuttings in late spring.
Remove lower leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
Place in a moist, well draining potting mix.
Keep in a bright, indirect light location until roots form.

Pair this shrub with drought tolerant perennials that appreciate the same sunny, well drained conditions.

Grows well with

Lavender · They share similar requirements for sun and well drained soil.
Russian Sage · The airy textures of both plants create a beautiful contrast.

Similar species

American Smoke Tree · It is a larger, native relative with spectacular fall color.

Science

Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Cotinus
Order: Sapindales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern Europe to central China.
Conservation: This species is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in dry, rocky slopes and open woodlands where it tolerates poor soil conditions.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental shrub, specimen plant, hedge

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need pruning?: Pruning is optional but helps maintain a compact shape or encourages vibrant new foliage.
Why is it called smoke bush?: The feathery, sterile flower stalks look like puffs of smoke covering the plant.

Where the name comes from

Cotinus is an ancient Greek name for a wild olive, while coggygria refers to the Greek word for a type of smoke tree.

Good to know

Smoke bush leaves are often used in floral arrangements.
The purple leaf varieties maintain their color best in full sun.
It is highly adaptable to various soil types including rocky ground.

Also in

Keep your purple smokebush growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.