'Royal Purple' was raised at Lombarts Nursery in Boskoop, Holland. Cotinus is in the same family as and closely related to the sumacs ( Rhus). Foliage retains good color without much fading throughout the growing season. Ovate to obovate leaves (to 3” long) emerge a rich maroon red in spring, and then gradually mature to dark purplish-red to purplish-black in summer. Cotinus the smoketree or smoke bush, is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, closely related to the sumacs (Rhus). The ‘Royal Purple’ smoke tree grows 10 to 15 ft. The outstanding characteristics of the purple smoke tree are oval to egg-shaped deep purple leaves, clusters of tiny yellow flowers that develop into wispy plumes, and a compact growth habit. But it is the foliage that particularly distinguishes 'Royal Purple'. The ‘Royal Purple’ smoke tree is one of the most popular Cotinus plants. As is the case with all plants of this species, it gets its common name of smoketree (or smokebush) not from the tiny, insignificant, yellowish flowers which appear in branching, terminal panicles (6-8” long) in spring, but from the billowy hairs (attached to elongated stalks on the spent flower clusters) which turn a smoky pink to purplish pink in late spring, thus covering the plant with fluffy, hazy, smoke-like puffs throughout summer. It is a deciduous, upright, loose-spreading, multi-stemmed shrub that typically matures over time to 10-15' tall.

In the garden, smoke bush can be trained. obovatus, a native of the southeast, is even taller, reaching 25 to 30 feet. The Eurasian species, Cotinus coggygria, reaches a height of 15 feet C.

Left to its natural inclinations, it will grow into a tree. ‘Royal Purple’ is a compact, purple-leaved version of the European species. You'll see smoke bush described in catalogs and garden references as both a shrub and a tree. Specific epithet comes from the Greek word kokkugia meaning smoke tree. Genus name comes from the Greek word kotinus meaning olive. Fall color is highly variable, but at its best produces attractive shades of yellow, orange, and purplish-red. Bluish green leaves (to 3” long) are ovate to obovate. It gets its common name of smoketree (or smokebush) not from the tiny, insignificant, yellowish flowers which appear in branching, terminal panicles (to 6-8” long) in spring, but from the billowy hairs (attached to elongated stalks on the spent flower clusters) which turn a smokey pink to purplish pink in summer, thus covering the tree with fluffy, hazy, smoke-like puffs throughout summer. It typically matures over time to 10-15’ tall and as wide. When planting amend the soil with compost and add a starter fertilizer like Biotone Starter Plus.Cotinus coggygria, commonly known as smoketree, is an upright, loose-spreading, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that is native from southern Europe to central China. Enter 3D world with the High Poly Cotinus Coggygria Royal Purple 3D model (Royal Purple Smoke Tree). PlantSmoke Bush/ Smoke Tree in sunny spots with well drained soil.

A stunning cultivar of the Missouri native. Growing 10-15′ tall and wide this small tree or large shrub, depending on how you prune it, is perfect softening the corner of a house or used as an accent in a mixed garden. Pink summer flowers are followed by large fuzzy purple seed clusters that cover the shrub in purple haze. Clusters of small yellow flowers in spring are followed by small billowy stalks which turn a smoky pink in late spring, thus covering the plant with fluffy, hazy, smoke-like puffs throughout summer. Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' By far our most popular smoke bush, and for a good reason inky dark purple leaves Dark leaves create depth in the garden and 'Royal Purple' Cotinus is one of the best plants for it. When backlit by the sun, leaves glow a brilliant violet. As the foliage matures it turns dark purple to almost black. Emerging a showy maroon purple, almost perfectly round leaves of ‘Royal Purple’ create a large stunning display. ‘Royal Purple’ Smoke Tree, Cotinus, adds stunning color and texture to the yard with little, to no maintenance.

Royal smoke bush