How to grow smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria)

Cotinus is famously known as the ‘smoke bush’, for its hazy plumes of soft pink, summer flowers that really do resemble clouds of soft smoke. However, it’s the oval-shaped foliage of these shrubs that makes a really dramatic statement. There's a range of cultivars with leaf colour ranging from apple green through to purple, and they all share characteristically brilliant autumn colouring, with a fiery display of yellow, red and deep scarlet.

Smoke bushes are mostly quite large shrubs or small trees, many reaching around 4m x 4m, but there are smaller cultivars available, and hard pruning in early spring can help manage the size of these larger varieties. How to grow smoke bush Grow smoke bush in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade (the purple-leaved varieties do best in full sun). Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or leaf mould in spring.



Smoke bush requires little or no pruning, but can benefit from a hard prune in late winter to early spring, which helps control the shape and size of the bush, and also generates larger leaves. Growing smoke bush: jump links Where to grow smoke bush All cotinus varieties need well-drained, fertile soil and a spot in a border in full sun or partial shade. Purple-leaved smoke bushes produce the best leaf colour if grown in full sun.

How to plant smoke bush Plant pot-grown cotinus in autumn, adding a generous spadeful of well-rotted manure to the planting hole. How to plant smoke bush in a pot Smoke bush can thrive in containers. Choose a dwarf variety such as 'Lilla', and use a pot with a diameter of around 35cm.

Fill halfway with a peat-free, loam-based compost such as John Innes number 3, then position the rootball, ensuring the top sits just below the rim of the pot, so it's growing at the same depth it was previously. Back-fill with compost and firm around the rootball gently. Water and allow to drain.

How to care for your smoke bush Cotinus coggygria are easy shrubs to care for. Water well until the plant becomes established, and then there shouldn't be any need to water unless conditions are very dry. Smoke bush benefits from a generous helping of home-made compost, well-rotted manure or leaf mould in spring.

When to prune smoke bush Smoke bush don’t need much pruning, but if you want to encourage bushy new growth with larger than average leaves, cut the stems back hard, to just 20-25cm off the ground, from late-winter to early spring. This will also help manage the overall size and shape of your smoke bush, especially if growing in a pot. How to propagate Cotinus coggygria Propagate smoke bush by taking softwood cuttings in summer.

Problem solving Cotinus coggygria are generally not plagued by pests and diseases – they can succumb to verticillium wilt , a fungal disease borne in the soil, which can cause dieback and affects the foliage. If your cotinus is affected, it's hard to treat and the best approach is to remove and destroy the plant, taking care not to disturb the soil too much as this can spread the fungus. Don’t replant cotinus in the same spot.

Advice on buying smoke bush Where to buy smoke bush online Cotinus coggygria varieties to try Frequently asked questions How big does a smoke bush grow? Moat smoke bushes can grow to around 4m in height. although can be kept smaller by pruning. Dwarf smoke bushes reach heights of around 1.

2m. Is smoke bush toxic? Smoke bush isn't toxic but may cause mild skin irritation for some people..