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Smokebush

About Smokebush

'Royal Purple' smoketree is a large shrub or small tree with a compact growth habit and showy purple leaves in the Anacardiaceae (cashew or poison ivy) family. It was introduced into the United States in 1953, originating in Boskoop, Holland. Planting in a location that provides full sun will lead to the best leaf coloration.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Cotinus coggygria

Genus

Cotinus

Family

Anacardiaceae

Order

Sapindales

Also known as

Smoke tree, European smoketree, Eurasian smoketree, Smoke bush and Venetian sumach,

How to care for Smokebush

💦 Water

How often to water your Smokebush

Smokebush needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Smokebush in your home

Smokebush love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Smokebush does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Smokebush in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Smokebush

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Smokebush: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Smokebush after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Smokebush

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Smokebush is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Smokebush →

Benefits of Growing Smokebush →

Common Smokebush Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Smokebush →

💦 Water Needs

Smokebush prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Smokebush Water Frequency →

Smokebush Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Smokebush requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Smokebush Light Requirements →

Smokebush Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Smokebush is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Smokebush does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Smokebush →

Best Pots for Smokebush →

When and How to Successfully Repot Smokebush →

What Are Healthy Smokebush Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Smokebush grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Smokebush →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Smokebush grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Smokebush Lifecycle →

Smokebush Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Smokebush →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Smokebush can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Smokebush Temperature Tolerance →

Smokebush Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Smokebush →

When to Plant Smokebush →

How to Plant Smokebush →

Where to Plant Smokebush →

Winter Care for Smokebush →

Best Companion Plants for Smokebush →

Is Smokebush a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Smokebush can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Smokebush →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Smokebush, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.