# Smokebush (*Cotinus coggygria*) The Smokebush is a lovely shrub that can grow tall and wide. It has fluffy, smoke-like flowers that look like puffs of cotton candy in the summer! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Smokebush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%D0%A1%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_European_smoketree_%28Cotinus_coggygria%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: LIght Dim, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A1%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_European_smoketree_%28Cotinus_coggygria%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Smokebush is famous for its misty, purplish-pink flower clusters that create a 'smoke' effect from late spring. Its oval leaves can be green, purple, or golden-yellow, transforming into brilliant reds and oranges in autumn. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Cotinus ## Interesting facts - It's a tough survivor, growing happily even in poor, rocky soils where other plants struggle. - Its wood is sometimes called 'fustic' and was once used to make a bright yellow dye! - Some varieties boast deep purple leaves all summer, looking like a mysterious dark cloud! - The 'smoke' you see isn't just flowers, but fuzzy stalks that remain after they bloom! ## Special abilities - **Smokey Illusion:** Smokebush has fluffy flower stalks that remain after blooming, making it look like it's puffing purple smoke to attract attention. - **Drought Defiance:** Smokebush can withstand dry spells, thanks to its tough root system, helping it survive hot, arid conditions. - **Autumn Blaze:** Smokebush can change its leaf color dramatically in autumn, from green to fiery red, creating a stunning visual display. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-500 cm - **Spread:** 300-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — may browse leaves and twigs - **Pollinates:** Painted lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — visits flowers for nectar ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be careful around plants and don't touch without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Smokebush? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Smokebush? 300-500 cm ### How wide does Smokebush spread? 300-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Smokebush? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Smokebush bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is Smokebush edible? No ### Is Smokebush toxic? Mild ### What is Smokebush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cedarmere-Clayton Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarmere-clayton-estates) — New York, US · Historic District - [Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gola-della-rossa-and-frasassi-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Smokebush: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/smokebush)