Thursday, October 29, 2009

Cotinus coggyria, Smoke Bush

Cotinus coggygria 'Rubrifolius'
 Smoke Bush

I had always thought of this shrub as belonging in a cold climate until I saw it recently peeping over a picket fence in a local garden. It gets its common name from the wispy smoke like flowers which appear around now .The foliage is a dark purple and the leaves will turn red during Autumn before falling.It grows to about 3 metres in sun or shade with the leaves turning a darker purple in full sun.



Stems of Smoke Bush are great in flower arrangements especially with orange flowers

A huge Smoke Bush growing in the Bodnant Garden near Colwyn Bay, North Wales

2 comments:

  1. I have never seen a smoke bush although I had heard of it. It looks stunning.

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  2. Dramatic looking shrub and accent in your arrangement. Love those orange roses!

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