Photo: Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
American Smoketree
Cotinus obovatus
Also called chittamwood, american smokebush.
Perhaps the best fall color of any native tree, on a small, drought-proof limestone specialist.
Fall colorShowy flowersDrought tolerantRare
- Type
- Small tree
- Mature height
- 20–30 ft
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Sun
- Full
- Soil moisture
- Dry · Average
210
American smoketree is rare in the wild, scattered on limestone bluffs from Tennessee to Texas, but it is hardy, tough and spectacular in the garden. Airy pink flower plumes give the smoke effect in June; in October the rounded blue-green leaves turn orange, scarlet and purple all at once. Needs sun and drainage, nothing more.
Heights and zones are typical ranges for the species in cultivation; local conditions and seed source shift them. Estimate growth for this species →
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