Smoketree

Smoketree

Cotinus coggygria

Anacardiaceae (Cashew Family)

▲ flowering tree

▲ small tree with fast growth rate

▲ purple-foliage form

▲ smoke-like inflorescences

▲ bark on older tree

▲ ▼ mature, green-leaved form

Location on campus: along Holland St. at west entrance to parking by Strong Hall.

Cotinus coggygria: Common or European Smoketree

• leaves alternate, simple, deciduous, ovate; leaves 1.5-3.5" long and 2/3 as wide; dark-blue green or purple in color; fall color may be bright red to orange
• stems are stout, brown to purplish with many small lenticels; pith is orange brown; crushed stems emit strong odor; pith is orange brown
• bark is gray brown with platy scales with age
• inflorescence of flowers and fading flowers is large, airy panicle which looks like "smoke" off tips of branches
• prefers full sun and well-drained soils, but tolerates many other soil types
• grows 10-15' tall and wide as large shrub or small tree, often with a number of trunks
• medium growth rate
• U.S. native, American Smoketree has larger leaves, good orange fall color and grows larger - to 30 feet tall