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Royal Purple Smokebush

Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

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Royal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple') at Eagle Lake Nurseries

Royal Purple Smokebush in bloom

Royal Purple Smokebush in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Royal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple') at Eagle Lake Nurseries

Royal Purple Smokebush

Royal Purple Smokebush

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Royal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple') at Eagle Lake Nurseries

Royal Purple Smokebush flowers

Royal Purple Smokebush flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  11 inches

Spread:  11 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Description:

One of the most popular color accent plants for general garden use featuring deep maroon foliage all summer long, turning to red in fall; flowers and reddish inflorescences produce a fuzzy, smoky appearance throughout summer, hence the name

Ornamental Features

Royal Purple Smokebush features airy panicles of yellow flowers with fuchsia stalks at the ends of the branches from early to late summer. It has attractive deep purple deciduous foliage. The round leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding brick red in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Royal Purple Smokebush is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Royal Purple Smokebush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Royal Purple Smokebush will grow to be about 11 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 11 inches. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

EAgle Lake Nurseries Tips

WIth this smokebush for our zone you need to treat this shrub with grace, needs to be in a sheltered location and cut back every fall! Kind of like an Annabelle Hyrdrangea!

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Fall Color 
Ornamental Features