Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I believe the tree may be European smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria). It grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9 and is highly drought-tolerant. Shredded tree bark, wood chips and pine needles work well. 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. Scrape light infestations off with an old toothbrush. Another health issue that this tree is affected by is powdery mildew. Even though “Royal Purple” is drought tolerant, it must be watered every morning for the first month after planting. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the stems, though, to prevent stem rot. 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. This disease is a result of a fungal infection. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. This should be a one-time application. Around fifteen year old smoke, bush tree, thriving, healthy and full of flowers. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Smoke bush is often used as an individual specimen … Two things come to mind. They have flat bodies with hard, black shells and are immobile. Once established in the landscape, shrubs and trees adjust to the nutrients in the soil and often don’t want too much extra pampering. It’s now the end of April and I see no life in any of them. 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. The Purple Smoke tree is extremely drought tolerant, adaptable to any well-drained soil, and easy to grow. Other common names smoke tree 'Royal Purple' . Left to its natural inclinations, it will grow into a tree. Ordinarily, 2 gallons of water each morning is sufficient; however, this varies depending on how quickly the soil drains. Is it dead? Early spring is best but it can be any time. The leaves are covered with a whitish-gray-colored powder… 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. Best offers for your Garden - https://amzn.to/2InnD0w ----- Smoke Tree Problems. 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. 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. There are some popular cultivars with purple leaves and darker flower clusters, such as ‘Royal Purple,’ ‘Velvet Cloak,’ and ‘Nordine Red.’. Black or tan leaf spots are caused by fungi or bacteria. When planted in soil that is high in nutrients, these shrubs do not live very long. Smoke Tree Lifespan - How long does a smoke tree live? Appearing in late spring, large, feathery, pink flower plumes cover the plant with fluffy, hazy 'smoky' puffs throughout summer. 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. Pruning smoke trees annually will help make the plant more compact and strengthen the limbs. Avoid fertilizing (directly or indirectly) with high nitrogen (lawn) fertilizer; nitrogen promotes stem and leaf growth at the expense of flower production. 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. How Far Back Can Japanese Boxwoods Be Safely Cut Back? Full sun. Copyright © 1996-2021 Michigan Gardener. Prune off heavily infested branches and dispose of them. Cotinus coggygria‘Royal Purple’ -- ‘Royal Purple’ Smoketree Page 3 Figure 3. Considered a susceptible tree, the smoke tree may die in a single season. Why Is My Winterberry Losing Black Leaves? 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?? 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. Smoke bush is drought-resistant and overwatering can result in few or no blooms, and makes it more susceptible to disease. Leaf drop, the falling of leaves that appear healthy, is also common with both varieties. 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. Fertilizer is not generally required for smoketree bushes and can actually harm them. Click cover to read now! 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. Fill these holes with 5-10-10 fertilizer. They can help you diagnose the issue with knowledge specific to your region. 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. Specific epithet comes from the Greek word kokkugia meaning smoke tree. Spots or rust show as discoloration on leaf tops. Prune off diseased branches and branches that are growing at odd angles or across other branches. Moderate grower to 15 feet tall, 10 to 12 feet wide. San Jose armored scales are found on the stems and leaves. 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. * Size: 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide if not pruned. She recently became a licensed insurance agent but has decided to pursue a writing career instead. “Royal Purple” is not highly susceptible to diseases but it does occasionally develop leaf spot, rust, scab, stem canker or verticillium wilt. We recommend taking a sample leaf to your local garden center for them to evaluate. The inner wood of the larger branches may show streaking of green, gray or black. It can also be pruned to keep it smaller if needed, and also grown into a striking informal purple-leaved hedge or screen. It is easy to see why Great Plant Picks chose this shrub for their 2005 list. 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. Ms. Raine is hoping to have her first novel published soon. 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 I live in zone four on the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota. -Jonathon. 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. Thanks to its filigree growth, it enjoys great popularity among hobby gardeners, especially as a solitary wood. Its claim to fame is the cloud of pinkish gray “smoke” that covers the plant in the summer. Smoke trees tend to have a rangy, splayed growth habit. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Royal Purple Smoke Bush - Cotinus - Flowering Shrub - 4" Pot at Amazon.com. ‘Royal Purple’ is a compact, purple-leaved version of the European species. Never have looked as they should.. Maybe it is a different species? Family Anacardiaceae . 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. Foliage of ‘Royal Purple’ Smoketree. I have the same problem mine is 17 years old and has never smoked and is now starting to die off. * 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. 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. Filed Under: Ask MG Tagged With: blossoms, Cotinus coggygria, purple smoke tree, spring, trees. Woody plants need watering less frequently than tender annuals, lawn, or herbaceous plants. A landscape phenom! This tree is prone to a fungal disease known as Verticillium wilt, due to which the tree eventually dies. I have tried watering it more, I have tried watering it less. The royal purple smoke tree, or Cotinus coggygria, produces large purple flowers in the spring and early summer. 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). 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. Woody plants are going to be happier if you don’t overdo it. Required fields are marked *. Diseases “Royal Purple” is not highly susceptible to diseases but it does occasionally develop leaf spot, rust, scab, stem canker or verticillium wilt. Rust fungus looks like powdery, orange rust on the leaves. Deciduous. 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. Ht.5mt.(15ft.). Leaves turn scarlet in fall. Entire branches wilt, shrub growth is stunted and the foliage turns yellow and drops prematurely. Dry Leaves On Purple Smoke Bush - The leaves on my purple smoke bush are all dry. If you see your smoke tree wilting, it may be a serious fungal disease called verticillium wilt. Flowers followed by ovoid fruits in late summer. The Royal Purple Smoke tree looks great as a single specimen or as a hedge or group planting. 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. 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. 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. Left to grow naturally it is a great way to fill a corner or an empty space in the garden. 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. The smoke tree belongs to the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), so it is related to the vinegar tree. It works well for mass plantings, borders or as a main focal point in the landscape, according to The Morton Arboretum. But they shrivel instead of producing the smoke effect. Gardenality.com was designed and developed by web development firm, Dot Designers. Leaf rollers are moth caterpillars that roll themselves up in smoketree leaves. The smoketree (sometimes also called smoke tree or smoke bush) is an awesome specimen tree to have in your garden or landscape. Q. If it is dry, give the shrub 3 gallons but, if it is dripping wet, wait until the next morning to water. There are also natural occurrences in South Tyrol and Ticino. For a new plant, avoid planting in waterlogged or poorly draining soil. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. The Royal Purple Smoketree grows into a rounded bush upwards of 10 feet tall and at least as wide. San Jose scales and oblique-banded leaf rollers may attack “Royal Purple” smoketrees. If the leaves of the American smoke tree are fading or turning pale, the tree may be suffering from chlorosis, an iron deficiency. OSU Extension Plant Pathology Slide Collection. Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)-Verticillium Wilt Notice the vascular discoloration where the outer portions of the branch have been removed. The infected foliage and any debris around the base of the shrub must be removed right away. Verticillium wilt, a soil borne fungus may be the culprit. The Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria) grows in light bushes on rocky and dry slopes. Prune stems with cankers back to healthy stem tissue below the canker and remove leaves with scabs. Most established trees and shrubs can go weeks without supplemental watering except in very hot or windy weather. Verticillium wilt is also caused by a fungus but there is no cure for it. Best in sun 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 The effect is the result not of flowers, but of tiny pinkish hairs on the small fruits that occur in large clusters. 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. As summer draws near, the leaves turn purple, almost black, a nice contrast to the red veins and edging of the leaf margins. Q. Wisteria And Smoke Tree Care - We have had a wisteria vine for four years and have not had any After the first month, give the shrub 5 to 6 gallons of water once or twice each week. During the first week, check the soil each morning before watering to determine if 2 gallons is enough. This issue sponsored by: I have a purple smoke tree that is about 9 years old. If the branches are still green/ alive, keeping it watered may save it. The beautiful Royal Purple Smoke Bush is now available as a Patio Standard tree! 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. Any ideas? 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