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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Smoke Tree
| image = Cotinus coggygria0.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Smoketree flowerhead with fruit and [[dew]] droplets
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Anacardiaceae]]
| genus = ''Cotinus''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''[[Cotinus coggygria]]''<br/>
''[[Cotinus obovatus]]''
}}
'''Smoketree''' or '''Smoke bush''' (''Cotinus'') is a [[genus]] of two [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the [[Anacardiaceae]], closely related to the [[sumac]]s (''Rhus''). They are large [[shrub]]s or small [[tree]]s, native to the warm temperate [[Northern Hemisphere]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[deciduous]], alternate, simple oval shape, 3-13 cm long. The [[flower]]s are clustered in a large open terminal panicles 15-30 cm long with a fluffy grayish-buff appearance resembling a cloud of smoke over the plant, from which the name derives. The [[fruit]] is a small [[drupe]] with a single [[seed]]. Often classified in ''Rhus'' in the past, they are distinguished by the leaves being simple (not pinnate) and the 'smoke-like' fluffy flower heads.
[[Image:Cotinus.obovatus01.jpg|thumb|left|American Smoketree (''Cotinus obovatus'')]]
[[Image:DaydreamSmokeTree.jpg|thumb|left|Smoketree (''Cotinus coggygria'') ]]
The '''American Smoketree''' (''Cotinus obovatus'', syn. ''Rhus cotinoides'') is native to the southeastern [[United States]], from [[Tennessee]] south to [[Alabama]] and west to eastern [[Texas]]. It is a larger plant, frequently becoming a small tree up to 10-12 m tall and with a trunk up to 25 cm diameter. The leaves are also larger, 6-13 cm long; it also has varied but very bright fall color, usually brighter than the Eurasian species. The flower heads are usually sparser than in ''C. coggygria''.
==Cultivation and uses==
The smoketrees, particularly ''C. coggygria'', are popular [[garden]] shrubs. Several bronze or purple-leaved [[cultivar]]s of ''C. coggygria'' have been selected, with warm pink inflorescences set against purple-black foliage; the commonest in commerce are 'Notcutt's Variety' and 'Royal Purple'. When brought into cultivation together, the two species will form [[hybrid]]s; some garden cultivars are of this parentage.
[[Image:Rain on a smoke tree leaf.jpg|thumb|Smoke tree leaf]]
Cultivation is best in dry, infertile soils, which keeps the growth habit more compact and also improves the autumn colour; when planted in fertile soil, they become large, coarse and also tend to be short-lived, succumbing to verticillium wilt disease. Both species can be [[coppice]]d in early spring, to produce first-year shoots up to 2 m tall with large handsome leaves, but no "smoke".
==External links==
* [http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ID=32 Tree Guide - Smoke Tree]
* [http://www.wcisel.com/plants/smoketree/ Tree Topics - Smoke Tree]
* [http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/cotinus_coggygria.html Smoke Tree]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/coob2.htm ''Cotinus obovatus'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
[[Category:Sapindales]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Smoke Tree
| image = Cotinus coggygria0.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Smoketree flowerhead with fruit and [[dew]] droplets
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Anacardiaceae]]
| genus = ''Cotinus''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''[[Cotinus coggygria]]''<br/>
''[[Cotinus obovatus]]''
}}
'''Smoketree''' or '''Smoke bush''' (''Cotinus'') is a [[genus]] of two [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the [[Anacardiaceae]], closely related to the [[sumac]]s (''Rhus''). They are large [[shrub]]s or small [[tree]]s, native to the warm temperate [[Northern Hemisphere]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[deciduous]], alternate, simple oval shape, 3-13 cm long. The [[flower]]s are clustered in a large open terminal panicles 15-30 cm long with a fluffy grayish-buff appearance resembling a cloud of smoke over the plant, from which the name derives. The [[fruit]] is a small [[drupe]] with a single [[seed]]. Often classified in ''Rhus'' in the past, they are distinguished by the leaves being simple (not pinnate) and the 'smoke-like' fluffy flower heads.
[[Image:Cotinus.obovatus01.jpg|thumb|left|American Smoketree (''Cotinus obovatus'')]]
[[Image:DaydreamSmokeTree.jpg|thumb|left|Smoketree (''Cotinus coggygria'') ]]
The '''American Smoketree''' (''Cotinus obovatus'', syn. ''Rhus cotinoides'') is native to the southeastern [[United States]], from [[Tennessee]] south to [[Alabama]] and west to eastern [[Texas]]. It is a larger plant, frequently becoming a small tree up to 10-12 m tall and with a trunk up to 25 cm diameter. The leaves are also larger, 6-13 cm long; it also has varied but very bright fall color, usually brighter than the Eurasian species. The flower heads are usually sparser than in ''C. coggygria''.
==Cultivation and uses==
The smoketrees, particularly ''C. coggygria'', are popular [[garden]] shrubs. Several bronze or purple-leaved [[cultivar]]s of ''C. coggygria'' have been selected, with warm pink inflorescences set against purple-black foliage; the commonest in commerce are 'Notcutt's Variety' and 'Royal Purple'. When brought into cultivation together, the two species will form [[hybrid]]s; some garden cultivars are of this parentage.
[[Image:Rain on a smoke tree leaf.jpg|thumb|Smoke tree leaf]]
Cultivation is best in dry, infertile soils, which keeps the growth habit more compact and also improves the autumn colour; when planted in fertile soil, they become large, coarse and also tend to be short-lived, succumbing to verticillium wilt disease. Both species can be [[coppice]]d in early spring, to produce first-year shoots up to 2 m tall with large handsome leaves, but no "smoke".
==External links==
* [http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ID=32 Tree Guide - Smoke Tree]
* [http://www.wcisel.com/plants/smoketree/ Tree Topics - Smoke Tree]
* [http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/cotinus_coggygria.html Smoke Tree]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/coob2.htm ''Cotinus obovatus'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
[[Category:Sapindales]]