Plant of the Month November 2026
GENERAL INFORMATION: It belongs to a small family, the Anacardiaceae. This includes sumac, poison ivy, mango, cashew and pistachio.
Common Name: Smoke tree.
Life Cycle: Small deciduous tree or large shrub.
Height: 3-5m.
Cotinus corrygria - leaves early November.
Leaves: Oval to obvate green-blue leaves are about 7.5cm long. Fall colour varies. It can be a wonderful mixture of yellow, orange, peach and red with purple tones. Best colour when grown in poor soil and full sun.
Cotinus corrygria - showing leaves early July.
Bloom Time: June in Southern Ontario with heads persisting into the fall.
Flower Colour & Size: Tiny inconspicuous yellowish flowers are in large branched persistent panicles up to 20cm long. Surrounding long billowy hairs may be buff to pinkish giving the large heads a smoke like appearance. Male inflorescences quickly drop.
Cotinus corrygria - developing "seeds" late June.
Scent: Parts of the plant have a woody, green tannin scent. Crushed foliage smells like herbs with pine, earth and hints of fruit.
Fruit: Tiny, dry, kidney-shaped single-seeded drupes, about 2–3mm wide.
Range: Southern Europe east to central Asia.
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes.
CULTIVATION:
Plant: as an accent, part of a shrub border or as a hedge.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Grows well in poor rocky soils. Our self-seeded small tree grows between a paved driveway and a deep gravel driveway. Colour is best in poor soils.
Water: Average. Good drainage is important. Hates waterlogged soils.
USDA Hardiness: Zones 5-8.
Pests and Diseases: No serious problems.
Pollinators: Occasional bees.
Propagation: Cuttings or seed. Cultivar seed may produce a dissimilar plant. Expose seed to fluctuating outdoor winter temperatures with freezing for 3 months. Gradually increase light and temperature in the spring.
References:
https://plantfinder.mobot.org/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c390
https://www.gardenia.net/plant/cotinus-coggygria-smokebush
https://onrockgarden.com/index.php/germination-guide/germination-guide
AI overview
Text and images supplied by Anna Leggatt, Toronto Master Gardener.