Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Measure how many hours of direct sun the plant gets.
- Look for signs of the plant leaning toward the light.
- Check if the plant has been pruned in the last few years.
Likely causes
Insufficient Light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves. The plant leans heavily toward the nearest light source.
What to do: Move the plant to a location with full sun if possible. If it is in the ground, consider pruning back surrounding trees to increase light exposure.
Lack of Pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant has grown tall and sparse over several years without any shaping. The foliage is concentrated only at the very tips of long branches.
What to do: Prune the plant in late winter or early spring to encourage bushier growth. You can cut back the stems by one third to promote new, dense branches.
Find out what's wrong with your purple smokebush
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is not a health emergency, but it does affect the aesthetic of the plant. It is normal for older plants to lose some density at the base.
Stopping it coming back
Give your Smokebush plenty of sun and perform light maintenance pruning every spring to keep it full and shapely.
Purple Smokebush: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your purple smokebush and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I prune my Smokebush hard?
- Yes, you can cut it back significantly in late winter to rejuvenate it. This will result in fewer flowers that year but much denser foliage.
- Does shade make the leaves less purple?
- Yes, the vibrant purple color is most intense in full sun. In too much shade, the leaves will turn a duller green.
More problems with Purple Smokebush
- Why are there spots on my Purple Smokebush leaves?
- Why is my Purple Smokebush drooping?
- Why are my Purple Smokebush leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Purple Smokebush leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Purple Smokebush losing its leaves?
- Why is my Cotinus coggygria not producing smoke flowers?
- Why does my Cotinus coggygria look wilted and sickly?
Back to the Purple Smokebush guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.