Synonym:  Rhus cotinus
Family:  Anacardiaceae
Light:  Full sun/part shade
Height:  12-15'
Spacing:  12-20'
Blooms:  Pink, purple smokey, late Spring
Foliage:  Showy, deciduous, burgundy on top, green undersides, smokey blossoms on grey branches
Seeds:  Clusters, plume-like
Soil:  Well-drained, alkaline, moist, rocky, clay, drought tolerant 
Water:  Low
Uses:  Hedge, shrub border, mass plant
Propagation:  Layering (In Spring), rootball divisions/softwood cuttings (In Summer), seeds (In Fall) 
Insects/Disease:  Susceptible to mildew or verticillium wilt
Caution:  Plant may cause skin allergy.  Plant is spiney - wear gloves

Comments:  Cotinus coggygria 'Purple Smoke' or Smoke Tree or Venetian Sumac or Rhus cotinus is a spectacular, deciduous small tree or shrub that turns smokey in the Fall.  In  mid-Spring, red-purple smokey blossoms appear followed later by clusters of pluming on grey branches.  followed later by clusters of plume-like seeds.  Cotinus coggygria 'Purple Smoke' has attractive burgundy leaves with green undersides.  It is easily propagated from cuttings, layering and rootball divisions and performs best in a sunny to part shade location. Smoke Tree is low maintenance.  It tolerates pruning. In Spring, trim back to 1 foot above ground to maintain size.  Venetian Sumac produces clusters of plume-like seed at branch tips, lending it a hazy appearance.  Mass plant Rhus cotinus as attractive hedges .  It is ideal as a shrub border.  Citinus coggygria 'Purple Smoke' really eye-catching and make heads turn.

USDA Zones:  4-8