I believe the tree may be European smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria). It brightens the landscape with airy clusters of purple-pink flowers in the spring and burgundy foliage that changes to brilliant red in the fall. Smoke trees tend to have a rangy, splayed growth habit. Shredded tree bark, wood chips and pine needles work well. Verticillium wilt is also caused by a fungus but there is no cure for it. It is easy to see why Great Plant Picks chose this shrub for their 2005 list. For an existing plant, dig a dozen holes with a crowbar at the drip line that are a foot deep. San Jose armored scales are found on the stems and leaves. Best in sun The stunning purple foliage adds intense contrast and excitement to your landscape; A xeriscape recommended plant! Smoke Tree Lifespan - How long does a smoke tree live? For a new plant, avoid planting in waterlogged or poorly draining soil. The inner wood of the larger branches may show streaking of green, gray or black. It isn’t necessary to repeat this unless the smoke bush is not thriving in later years. Pruning smoke trees annually will help make the plant more compact and strengthen the limbs. Cotinus coggygria, syn. Smoke bush is drought-resistant and overwatering can result in few or no blooms, and makes it more susceptible to disease. For a new plant, avoid planting in waterlogged or poorly draining soil. When you grow a smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) in your backyard, the leaf color is ornamental throughout the growing season.The small tree’s oval leaves are deep purple, gold or green in summer, but light up in yellows, oranges and reds in autumn. All rights reserved. The infected foliage and any debris around the base of the shrub must be removed right away. Specific epithet comes from the Greek word kokkugia meaning smoke tree. Entire branches wilt, shrub growth is stunted and the foliage turns yellow and drops prematurely. They are commonly controlled by natural predators but rolled leaves and infested branches can be removed by hand and either crushed or burned to destroy them. Missouri Botanical Garden: Scale -- Outdoors, University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: UC IPM Online: How to Manage Pests: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes: Leafrollers on Ornamental and Fruit Trees. Even though “Royal Purple” is drought tolerant, it must be watered every morning for the first month after planting. I have tried watering it more, I have tried watering it less. Fertilizer is not generally required for smoketree bushes and can actually harm them. Tissue culture. It is a deciduous, upright, loose-spreading, multi-stemmed shrub that typically matures over time to 10-15' tall. It was nice to know more about smoke tree. This should be a one-time application. They can help you diagnose the issue with knowledge specific to your region. Best, Jonathon, Your email address will not be published. Old flower clusters from the previous year should be pruned off. For best flowering, this cultivar should not be cut back to the ground in winter, which is often done with species shrubs and other smoketree cultivars. If it is dry, give the shrub 3 gallons but, if it is dripping wet, wait until the next morning to water. Foliage of ‘Royal Purple’ Smoketree. Ht.5mt.(15ft.). If you see your smoke tree wilting, it may be a serious fungal disease called verticillium wilt. Most established trees and shrubs can go weeks without supplemental watering except in very hot or windy weather. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. It grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9 and is highly drought-tolerant. Annuals, tropicals and turf are heavy feeders, but over-fertilizing perennials and woody plants can force them to produce more stems and leaves than they want to, which can lead to unnecessary stress. Growing Royal Purple Smoke Trees. This issue sponsored by: I have a purple smoke tree that is about 9 years old. The infected leaves and twigs should be removed. The Eurasian species, Cotinus coggygria , reaches a height of 15 feet; C. obovatus , a native of the southeast, is even taller, reaching 25 to 30 feet. The Royal Purple Smoketree grows into a rounded bush upwards of 10 feet tall and at least as wide. Once established in the landscape, shrubs and trees adjust to the nutrients in the soil and often don’t want too much extra pampering. Smoke bush, Cotinus coggygria, is a deciduous shrub that's also commonly known as royal purple smoke bush, smokebush, smoke tree, and purple smoke tree. If the branches are still green/ alive, keeping it watered may save it. Last fall I received four smoke trees in bare root form. ..I’ve got exactly the same problem. Cotinus gets its common names, smoke bush or smoke tree, from its panicles of spent flowers that appear like puffs of smoke around the plant. As trees go it’s very compact, usually topping out at 10 to 12 feet tall and wide. There are some popular cultivars with purple leaves and darker flower clusters, such as ‘Royal Purple,’ ‘Velvet Cloak,’ and ‘Nordine Red.’. Filed Under: Ask MG Tagged With: blossoms, Cotinus coggygria, purple smoke tree, spring, trees. Leaf drop, the falling of leaves that appear healthy, is also common with both varieties. Hi Kristin – If your smoke bush still has not leafed out, cut a small branch off the plant and take it to your local independent garden center nursery. Emerging rich maroon-red in spring, the leaves mature to deep wine purple in summer, before turning redder in fall. When planted in soil that is high in nutrients, these shrubs do not live very long. I have the same problem mine is 17 years old and has never smoked and is now starting to die off. Deciduous. I live in zone four on the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota. They are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 8 where they grow to a height of 10 to 15 feet. The shrub may live for only one week or several years after being infected. The Purple Smoke tree is extremely drought tolerant, adaptable to any well-drained soil, and easy to grow. It works well for mass plantings, borders or as a main focal point in the landscape, according to The Morton Arboretum. Verticillium wilt, a soil borne fungus may be the culprit. You'll see smoke bush described in catalogs and garden references as both a shrub and a tree. When can I expect to see some budding and life coming forth from my royal purple smoke trees? Prune off diseased branches and branches that are growing at odd angles or across other branches. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Royal Purple Smoke Bush - Cotinus - Flowering Shrub - 4" Pot at Amazon.com. The flame smoke tree can also contract a powdery mildew growth on its leaf tops. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. It can reach as high as 20 feet, but even this is small enough to fit into most gardens, as long as it’s the main focal point. A large shrub or small multi-stemmed tree that can grow to 15 feet tall, it can work as a background plant for the mixed border or as a single specimen plant. It’s now the end of April and I see no life in any of them. There are some popular cultivars with purple leaves and darker flower clusters, such as ‘Royal Purple,’ ‘Velvet Cloak,’ and ‘Nordine Red.’ While smoke bush is relatively easy to grow, it can use some help in the early stages of development. The smoke tree belongs to the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), so it is related to the vinegar tree. Perfect for keeping shaped as a centrepiece to any planter or even in the garden border, this tree comes with an approx 70cms clear stem, topped off with branches and foliage which will fill out year-on-year. There are two types of Smoke trees, one is more of a shrub (European Smoketree Cotinus coggygria) and has a mature spread of 12 feet.The American Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus) is a small tree growing up to 30- 40 feet tall.Cotinus coggygria which is the species you are likely to have, has shallow fibrous roots so it's unlikely to damage the wall but it's root system will be constricted. Deciduous, bushy shrub with dark red purple foliage turning scarlet in autumn. Did it bloom in the summer? Flowers followed by ovoid fruits in late summer. It requires a moist, well-drained soil in full or partial sun and it won’t fail to impress. Woody plants need watering less frequently than tender annuals, lawn, or herbaceous plants. But they shrivel instead of producing the smoke effect. This disease is a result of a fungal infection. I have a young purple smoke bush that I just planted late spring, the leaves are all dried and brittle, not sure it i don’t water it enough of maybe too much, they told me to keep it well watered, what can I do to save it?? Cotinus coggygria‘Royal Purple’ -- ‘Royal Purple’ Smoketree Page 3 Figure 3. Dry Leaves On Purple Smoke Bush - The leaves on my purple smoke bush are all dry. This tree is prone to a fungal disease known as Verticillium wilt, due to which the tree eventually dies. If it becomes a recurring problem, dust the shrub with sulfur fungicide five or six times at seven- to 10-day intervals beginning in the spring each year to prevent the fungus. Two things come to mind. Considered a susceptible tree, the smoke tree may die in a single season. Leaf spots, sometimes called leaf rust, can affect both varieties. * Size: 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide if not pruned. Fill these holes with 5-10-10 fertilizer. Gardenality.com was designed and developed by web development firm, Dot Designers. Its claim to fame is the cloud of pinkish gray “smoke” that covers the plant in the summer. Your email address will not be published. Ms. Raine is hoping to have her first novel published soon. Diseases “Royal Purple” is not highly susceptible to diseases but it does occasionally develop leaf spot, rust, scab, stem canker or verticillium wilt. Other Roots: surface roots are usually not a problem Winter interest: no special winter interest Outstanding tree: tree has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more Left to grow naturally it is a great way to fill a corner or an empty space in the garden. The leaves are covered with a whitish-gray-colored powder… Around fifteen year old smoke, bush tree, thriving, healthy and full of flowers. Genus Cotinus are large deciduous shrubs or small trees with simple, obovate leaves often colouring well in autumn, and insignificant flowers borne in large, plumy panicles in summer becoming colourful in fruit Click cover to read now! One is the tree was hit by some sort of herbicide. Woody plants are going to be happier if you don’t overdo it. Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' will naturally grow to a shrub of around 5 x 5 meters in size over 20 years, but we have grown it as a beautiful single stem tree with a lovely rounded habit. Royal Purple Smoke Tree - (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple') Trees Other Common Names: Skoke Tree ... Never use any information from Gardenality to diagnose or treat any medical problem. Best offers for your Garden - https://amzn.to/2InnD0w ----- Smoke Tree Problems. The smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria), a small ornamental tree, often suffers from Verticillium wilt, a fungal disease caused from the fungi Verticillium albo-atrum or Verticillium dahliae. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yes, but it did not answer the question. They have flat bodies with hard, black shells and are immobile. Why Is My Winterberry Losing Black Leaves? Early spring is best but it can be any time. “Royal Purple” requires only minimal pruning in late winter or early spring just before it begins to put on new foliage. While smoke bush is relatively easy to grow, it can use some help in the early stages of development. We recommend taking a sample leaf to your local garden center for them to evaluate. Copyright © 1996-2021 Michigan Gardener. Foliage holds color all summer, turning scarlet in autumn. As summer draws near, the leaves turn purple, almost black, a nice contrast to the red veins and edging of the leaf margins. It is widespread in the eastern Mediterranean-area, on the Balkan-peninsula and in Asia. Another health issue that this tree is affected by is powdery mildew. Prune stems with cankers back to healthy stem tissue below the canker and remove leaves with scabs. Reannan Raine worked for 30 years in the non-profit sector in various positions. Avoid fertilizing (directly or indirectly) with high nitrogen (lawn) fertilizer; nitrogen promotes stem and leaf growth at the expense of flower production. Award-winner Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' (Smokebush) is a bushy large deciduous shrub noted for its attractive foliage of rounded leaves. If your tree is planted in the lawn, remove the grass in at least a 6-foot diameter area around your tree. Learn how your comment data is processed. Full sun. After the first month, give the shrub 5 to 6 gallons of water once or twice each week. Plume like panicles of inconspicuous, deep pink flowers in summer, giving a smoke-like appearance. AKA Cotinus 'Royal Purple', Smoke Bush Mulch the area (do not pile mulch up against the trunk) and water infrequently: a good soaking once per week is much better than multiple small waterings. If so the tree is toast and should be cut down. This slow growing, open-crown, round, small tree eventually reaches to 12 to 15 feet tall (occasionally 20) and 10 to 12 feet wide. I love it, It’s hard to say. The royal purple smoke tree, or Cotinus coggygria, produces large purple flowers in the spring and early summer. San Jose scales and oblique-banded leaf rollers may attack “Royal Purple” smoketrees. Family Anacardiaceae . Q. Wisteria And Smoke Tree Care - We have had a wisteria vine for four years and have not had any Stem cankers and leaf scabs are caused by a fungus but fungicides will not control or prevent them. Leaves turn scarlet in fall. Never have looked as they should.. Maybe it is a different species? How Far Back Can Japanese Boxwoods Be Safely Cut Back? The beautiful Royal Purple Smoke Bush is now available as a Patio Standard tree! If the leaves of the American smoke tree are fading or turning pale, the tree may be suffering from chlorosis, an iron deficiency. “Royal Purple” is not highly susceptible to diseases but it does occasionally develop leaf spot, rust, scab, stem canker or verticillium wilt. Is it dead? -Jonathon. * Common name: Purple smoketree ‘Royal Purple’ * Botanical name: Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ * What it is: A small tree or large shrub with rich, deep-burgundy, oval leaves and airy, pinkish flower clusters in summer that look like puffs of pink smoke. The smoketree (sometimes also called smoke tree or smoke bush) is an awesome specimen tree to have in your garden or landscape. Rust fungus looks like powdery, orange rust on the leaves. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. “Royal Purple” (Cotinus coggygria “Royal Purple”) is a smoketree cultivar that is drought tolerant and deer resistant. Informative article! What Does a Russian Almond Shrub Smell Like? A landscape phenom! Leaf rollers are moth caterpillars that roll themselves up in smoketree leaves. ‘Royal Purple’ is a compact, purple-leaved version of the European species. I am kind of glad it is because it never did what I bought it for so now I can replace it with something like a real flowering tree. It produces flowers on new stems so pruning after it begins growing in the spring will reduce blooming. A 2- to 3-inch depth of organic mulch should be spread over the “Royal Purple” root system to help keep the soil moist, reduce weed growth and prevent mower injury to the stems. Other common names smoke tree 'Royal Purple' . Smoke tree, botanically known as Cotinus coggygria, does require some pruning to keep it in shape and prevent it from becoming a shrub that can overtake the site where it is planted. If your cotinus is affected, it’s hard to treat and the best approach is to remove and destroy the plant, taking care not to disturb the soil too much as this can spread the fungus. The Royal Purple Smoke tree looks great as a single specimen or as a hedge or group planting. It is a large, healthy tree, but it has never “smoked.” Every spring it is full of blossoms, then when other smoke trees are beginning to smoke, the blossoms on this tree shrivel and die. She recently became a licensed insurance agent but has decided to pursue a writing career instead. Ordinarily, 2 gallons of water each morning is sufficient; however, this varies depending on how quickly the soil drains. Q. Smoke tree is an ornamental shrub to small tree that is grown for the bright purple or yellow leaves and the spring flowers that mature and “puff” out as if they were clouds of smoke. In this plant disease, the leaves curl inwards and droop or bend, not regaining their original shape. I planted them as soon as I receive them in the mail. Thanks for reading! The branches of the tree may also be affected by the wilt, making it important to chop them off, lest they spread the disease to the entire tree. Q. Appearing in late spring, large, feathery, pink flower plumes cover the plant with fluffy, hazy 'smoky' puffs throughout summer. There are also natural occurrences in South Tyrol and Ticino. Problems With Flowering Mock Orange (Philadelphus Lewisii), Missouri Botanical Garden: Cotinus Coggygria “Royal Purple”, Missouri Botanical Garden: Cotinus Coggygria, Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Home & Garden Information Center: Planting Shrubs Correctly, North Carolina State University: Watering Shrubs, University of Wisconsin Extension: Cooperative Extension: News Archives: Renewal Pruning Benefits Shrubs, Missouri Botanical Garden: Leaf Spot Diseases of Shade Trees and Ornamentals, Purdue University: Purdue Extension: Disease Management Strategies: Using Organic Fungicides, The University of Georgia: College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences: Ornamentals -- Home Insect Control, Missouri Botanical Garden: Verticillium Wilt, University of Florida IFAS Extension: EDIS: Cotinus Coggygria “Royal Purple”: “Royal Purple” Smoketree. Scrape light infestations off with an old toothbrush. Required fields are marked *. Spots or rust show as discoloration on leaf tops. If so, its small tree and should not be a problem that close to the house. The Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria) grows in light bushes on rocky and dry slopes. SB Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple - Smoke Bush - Plant in 3.5" Pot More buying choices £21.20 (1 used offer) Cotinus 'Grace' 15cm Pot Size Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)-Verticillium Wilt Notice the vascular discoloration where the outer portions of the branch have been removed. Moderate grower to 15 feet tall, 10 to 12 feet wide. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the stems, though, to prevent stem rot. Natural scale predators usually keep them under control. It can also be pruned to keep it smaller if needed, and also grown into a striking informal purple-leaved hedge or screen. These deciduous shrubs are easy to care for and can actually be harmed when given the level of care required by many other flowering shrubs. The large panicles of wispy purple-colored flowers produced in spring and early summer give the effect of a cloud of smoke. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: UC IPM Online: San Jose Scale, Diaspidiotus Perniciosus, Black Caps (Right) and the Covering of a Mature Female with a Parasite Exit Hole (Left). OSU Extension Plant Pathology Slide Collection. There is a purple leaf variety that is a common landscape plant. Cotinus are generally not plagued by pests and diseases – they can succumb to verticillium wilt, a fungal disease borne in the soil, which can cause dieback and affects the foliage. Any ideas? Smoke bush is often used as a garden specimen thanks to its beautiful purple-pink smokey plumes and the purple leaves found on some cultivars. Smoke bush is often used as an individual specimen … Prune off heavily infested branches and dispose of them. Thanks to its filigree growth, it enjoys great popularity among hobby gardeners, especially as a solitary wood. J.W., Ann Arbor, Although smoke tree or smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria) requires well-drained soil and full sun, it is quite adaptable to different soil conditions. From the second year on, give the shrub 5 to 6 gallons of water every 10 days when it does not rain. The effect is the result not of flowers, but of tiny pinkish hairs on the small fruits that occur in large clusters. Rhus cotinus, the European smoketree, Eurasian smoketree, smoke tree, smoke bush, Venetian sumach, or dyer's sumach, is a species of flowering plant in the family Anacardiaceae, native to a large area from southern Europe, east across … During the first week, check the soil each morning before watering to determine if 2 gallons is enough. Dramatic, long lasting, pinkish purple, smoke-like airy seed clusters backed by reddish-purple foliage creates a prized small tree or large accent shrub. Left to its natural inclinations, it will grow into a tree. Black or tan leaf spots are caused by fungi or bacteria.