Family: Anacardiaceae
Common Name: Smoke Tree

This genus comprises two or three species of deciduous shrubs or trees, with yellow wood and milky sap, grown mostly for their handsome autumn colour. The loose sprays of yellow flowers age to a soft gray, giving the effect of smoke plumes.

Species

C. coggygria, smoke bush, is a bushy, spreading shrub, growing 3-5 m (10-16 ft). The branched, hairy sprays of pale pink, late summer flowers turn smoky purple as they mature. The Purpureus Group has green leaves which take on brilliant autumn colour, and purple 'smoke'; 'Royal Purple' is clothed with very deep purple leaves; and 'Velvet Cloak' produces rich purple foliage which turns red-purple in autumn.

C. obovatus, American smoke tree, is among the finest of the autumn foliage trees. The oval leaves change to orange, scarlet, yellow and purple, remaining on the tree for some time if protected from wind. It grows to about 10 m (33 ft) high.

Cultivation

Species are propagated from seed. Cultivars such as the purple-leaved forms are propagated by layering in spring. If the long stems are cut every 10 cm (4 in), and bent round in a semi-circular trench, a new plant will usually shoot from the sections. Advanced plants can be transplanted in the winter, and established plants should be pruned hack in the dormant season to ensure an abundance of spring foliage.

Climate

Zone 5.