Those twentieth century poet/troubadours, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, captured a universal sentiment when they penned the words “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Most gardeners would agree. I depend on friends for inspiration and friendly criticism, not to mention timely donations of cuttings, perennial divisions and collected seeds.
Last week I was touring a friend’s inspiring suburban garden when I saw a relatively new arrival. It was a baby smoke bush or Cotinus coggygria, a plant that I have coveted regularly over the years but never managed to acquire.
Smoke bush goes by many evocative names: smoke tree, purple mist tree, Jupiter’s beard, Venetian sumach, mist tree and wig tree. I am not sure what this cashew or Anacardiaceae family member has to do with wigs or Jupiter, but it certainly has a “beard”.
The “beard” or “smoke” is a visual effect created by thousands of long hairs that are attached to spent flower panicles. In summer, a mature smoke bush will cloak itself in dramatic, puffy clouds of these hairs, ranging in color from pinkish-beige to soft purple. At ten to fifteen feet tall, the blooming smoke bush is an Impressionist painting come to life.
Cotinus is not a big genus; it contains only three species, native to North American, Europe or Asia. The coggygria species is the Asian native, first introduced in the United States in 1656, only a generation after European colonists introduced themselves here. It prospered and eventually came to the attention of George Washington, who wrote of it in about 1786. With that kind of association, it is a wonder that smoke bush is not on a coin, bill or state seal.
In its natural state, smoke bush grows as a multi-stemmed shrub, with a rather loose habit. Many people prefer a little less bulk and grow smoke bushes as smoke trees. This is easy to do by choosing the strongest two or three main stems on young plants and pruning away all others. As the plant grows larger, continue this pruning to discourage side shoots below the established crown level and promote development of a rounded crown. It is a shame to have to bring Mr. Antlers and his ever-increasing family into any plant discussion, but it is worth noting that growing the smoke bush in tree form will also eventually deter hungry deer.
Smoke trees in training will still require deer protection for the first several years. This is best done by encircling the young specimen with a barrier of hardware cloth or other wire mesh. Once the crown is above the eight-foot level, the barrier can be removed.
In an era when planting spaces are more compact and gardeners look for trees that can anchor a small landscape or front strip, smoke bush grown in tree form will do the job. For those with power lines running in front of the house, smoke bush grows tall enough to create a strong presence, but remains short enough not to interfere with the lines. Take a look at the way utility companies often “prune” street trees and you will appreciate the value of that trait.
Smoke bush varieties abound, bred for variations in ‘smoke” and foliage colors. Some are Cotinus coggygria selections, while others are hybrids of coggygria and the larger American smoke bush or Cotinus obovatus. ‘Royal Purple’ is one of several purple-leafed coggygria varieties, with characteristic rounded foliage that emerges reddish purple in spring, darkens over the course of the growing season and ends up clothing itself in shades of red, orange and yellow in the fall. ‘Nordine’ and ‘Black Velvet’ are similar. The leaves are so appealing that they are occasionally used in cut-flower arrangements.
Another variety that adds extra color is ‘Ancot’, sold commercially as Golden Spirit. The rounded leaves are golden-green through the growing season, coloring brilliantly in the fall. ‘Ancot’s only problem seems to be that it may not flower or produce the characteristic “smoke”. Sources differ, but the foliage alone makes the plant valuable in the garden.
If you are looking for something smaller than the normal ten to fifteen foot smoke bush, try cultivars like ‘’Purple Supreme’, which grows eight to ten feet high and features purple-pink smoke combined with purple leaves. Green-leafed ‘Daydream’ is about the same size as ‘Purple Supreme’, with extra-large, extra-fluffy pink inflorescences. ‘Young Lady’ is another similar-size, green-leafed form.
Smoke bush is a relatively unfussy plant, though it is rather shallow-rooted. It tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions, but requires excellent drainage and full sun. If your area is like mine and features heavy clay soil, amend with sand or grit when planting. Pruning is necessary if you are growing your smoke bush in tree form. Otherwise, prune lightly to shape the plant after the “smoke” has dissipated.
Grown as shrubs, smoke bushes make excellent hedges or large foundation plantings. Tree or shrub forms can also be used as specimen or accent subjects. If you have room, you should have smoke bush. One good source is ForestFarm, 14643 Watergap Rd., Williams, OR 97544-9599, (541) 846-7269, www.forestfarm.com. Catalog free to U.S. customers.