What do I need?

• A trowel
• Garden peat, compost, hydrograins and sand
• Water

Water first
Place the smoke tree in a bucket of lukewarm water first.

In a pot
Add sand, garden peat, hydrograins and compost to a large pot and then plant the Cotinus. Place the tree at the proper height, so that the top of the root ball is just below ground level. Fill the hole up with potting soil and press firmly. Give the Cotinus water right away.

In the garden
Smoke trees thrive in wind-protected, sunny locations and in soil that drains well. The soil needs to be nutrient-rich, but it is all right if it is a bit dry. Create a spacious hole for planting and till the soil well. Add sand, garden peat, hydrograins and compost to the hole and then plant the Cotinus. Place the tree at the proper height, so that the top of the root ball is just below ground level. Fill the hole up with potting soil and press firmly. Give the Cotinus water right away.

This small tree or shrub requires very little maintenance. Give extra water during dry periods.

Smoke tree pruning

The smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is actually found growing naturally on mountain slopes. It also works well as a solitary plant. If left to its own devices, it forms a multi-stemmed shrub. It is also possible to grow a single strain. Then you really get a small tree.
It is not a strong grower, so a moderate pruning is sufficient. In March you can lightly thin out the smoke tree, but this is not necessary. After a time if necessary to rejuvenate the bush it can be cut back more significantly. When a shrub form is desired, three basic stems are kept. To form a tree unwanted branches should be removed and for a small tree or shrub the top must be cut after flowering to the desired height of the tree.
 

The special decorative smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is now becoming more well-known among gardeners and you can see why! In June and July you will enjoy the beautiful white panicles (for the cultivars with green leaves) or pink panicles (for the cultivars with red leaves). Seed clusters appear after the flowers forming a fluffy, smoky haze at the tips of the tree or shrub.
In autumn the leaves become a distinctive yellow colour in plants with green leaves and a red colour in plants with red leaves. The smoke tree looks amazing in large groups but also fun as a solitary shrub. Due to the relatively modest size of the smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) it is also suitable for small gardens.
There are several cultivars of this species available. They differ mainly in the leaf colour, and the colour of the flower plume.

The smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is classified in its own family: the smoke tree family (Anacardiaceae).