Smoketree 'Royal Purple' (Cotinus coggygria)

Synonyms: Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple

Smoketree Royal Purple (Cotinus coggygria Royal Purple) – a cultivar of the species Cotinus coggygria in the genus Cotinus, family Anacardiaceae (Anacardiaceae). The cultivar was developed at Lombarts Nursery (Boskoop, Netherlands) and was first introduced in the USA in 1953. In 1993 it received an award from the Royal Horticultural Society.

It is a deciduous, shrubby plant up to 1,5 м in height and 1-15 м in diameter. It has a crown in the form of an irregular sphere. The rounded outline may change with age, becoming more oval. The root system is well developed and widely spreading. Roots are powerful, sinewy, and firmly stabilize the soil.

Leaves are arranged very densely. Individual leaves are leathery, somewhat coarse, ovate in shape. Foliage covers the branches densely, in clusters. Color ranges from dark brown, purple to bright red, with a metallic tint. In autumn it ranges from orange-red to scarlet.

Flowers are on mature branches, red with a silvery sheen, in feathery panicles up to 30cm. Blooms in May.

Fruits are dry drupes of kidney-like shape and greenish color; when ripe they acquire a brownish tint and become covered with a network of longitudinal veins. They ripen in August.

Hardiness zone: zone 4a (-25°C).

Location: preferably plant in full sun. Drought-tolerant. Does not tolerate excessive soil moisture; grows well on dry rocky slopes and calcareous outcrops.

Planting: carried out in spring or autumn. When planting into a hole it is advisable to add a little lime. Fill the hole with soil mixed with compost or humus.

Care: practically requires no maintenance. In early spring a balanced mineral fertilizer can be applied. In June organic matter can be added – cow manure or poultry manure. Watering is done only for young shrubs after planting and during dry periods.

Pruning: tolerates pruning well, especially at a young age.

Diseases: may be affected by fungal diseases – wilted branches should be pruned.

Pests: not affected

Propagation: cultivars are preferably propagated vegetatively – by cuttings, division of bushes, or by layering. The simplest method is to bend the lower branches and secure them with pins, covering them with soil. At the points where the shoots contact the soil the bark should be slightly scored – this speeds up root formation. After rooting the branch is cut from the parent plant, and the following year the young plant is transplanted to a permanent site.

Uses: Suitable for any landscape compositions. Thanks to its showiness it looks impressive when planted as a specimen, and the shrub’s compactness and undemanding nature ensure excellent performance in park settings and often in country gardens.