Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak')
The Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak' Smoketree offers stunning deep purple foliage and hazy, smoke-like summer blooms. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in full sun.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ Smoketree is prized by gardeners for its dramatic, deep purple foliage that provides season-long color interest. This upright, loose-spreading deciduous shrub delivers unique texture and substantial visual weight to any landscape design. While its tiny yellow flowers are present in late spring, the plant earns its common name from the fluffy, hazy plumes that follow, resembling smoke in pink to purplish hues throughout the summer.
Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ is a reasonably adaptable plant, known for handling various soil conditions provided drainage is adequate. It typically matures into a robust specimen reaching 10 to 15 feet high and wide, though shaping is possible through targeted pruning. Its impressive presentation and relatively easy care make the Smoketree a striking accent choice for sunny borders and screen applications.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Anacardiaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 10-15 ft
- Spread: 10-15 ft
- Bloom Time: May to July
- Bloom Description: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting the Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ is best done in spring or fall, ensuring it receives full sun exposure for the deepest purple leaf color. This shrub thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It can tolerate a wide range of soil types, performing well even in poor, rocky loams, but sharp drainage is essential to prevent root issues.
Care centers primarily on providing consistent, medium water, especially while young, though established Smoketrees exhibit good drought tolerance. Fertilization is generally unnecessary, as this plant prefers somewhat infertile soils. Due to its shallow, fibrous root system, avoid deep cultivation near the base of the shrub.
Pruning management depends entirely on grower intent. If the summer smoke display is desired, prune very lightly in early spring only as needed to shape the plant. If you prioritize vigorous growth and larger leaves over flowers and smoke, stems can be cut back hard in early spring to a framework, encouraging robust new shoots.
Landscape Uses
The striking dark foliage of Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ makes it an exceptional choice as a single specimen plant, immediately drawing the eye. Its mature size allows it to function effectively as an informal hedge or screen, providing a dark, structural element against lighter hardscape or flowering perennials.
Consider grouping this Smoketree in shrub borders or mass plantings to create deep contrast. Pairing the deep purple leaves with plants that offer bright greens, yellows, or silvers—such as ornamental grasses or light-colored Sedum varieties—will maximize the visual impact of the ‘Velvet Cloak’ cultivar. Its long-lasting summer smoke provides unique textural interest compared to traditional flowering shrubs.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Insignificant
Noteworthy Characteristics
The hallmark of the Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ is its deeply colored ovate to obovate leaves, which maintain their rich purple shade throughout the growing season before transitioning to attractive orange-red tones in the fall. This cultivar derives its spectacular name not from the small, insignificant flowers, but from the elongated stalks on spent flower clusters that develop into billowy, hazy puffs resembling smoke, often tinted purplish-pink in summer. Closely related to sumacs, this robust deciduous shrub develops distinctive texture and color in the landscape.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Clay Soil
Potential Problems
Generally, the Smoketree resists serious insect or disease issues, offering relatively trouble-free performance. Gardeners should watch for minor susceptibility to fungal issues, namely leaf spot and rust, particularly in humid conditions or poor air circulation. Occasionally, it may be afflicted with verticillium wilt, which requires careful management to prevent transmission to other susceptible plants nearby. Ensure proper spacing and address any sanitation issues promptly to maintain plant health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Smoketree suitable for?
Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ is hardy and reliably grows in USDA Zones 5 through 8.
How large does Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ grow?
This cultivar typically reaches a mature height between 10 and 15 feet, with an equal spread of 10 to 15 feet unless heavily pruned for size control.
What sun exposure does Smoketree need?
For optimal color and growth, the Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ requires full sun exposure throughout the day.
When does Smoketree bloom?
The blooming period for this shrub generally spans from May through July, producing small yellow flowers before the characteristic “smoke” appears.
Conclusion
The Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ remains a premier choice for gardeners seeking high textural contrast and reliable, deep color that persists across the season. Its ability to tolerate drought and somewhat poorer soils, coupled with its stunning purple haze, confirms the Smoketree’s value. Before planting, confirm your location falls within USDA Zones 5-8 and plan your site to maximize its full sun requirements.
Design Ideas with Dark Foliage
The deep, near-black foliage of ‘Velvet Cloak’ acts as a perfect foil for nearly any color palette. Use it near walls or structures that are light-colored, like white stucco or pale gray stone, to make the purple pop intensely. When massing, consider pairing it with plants that have fine, airy textures, such as needle-like junipers or tall, wispy ornamental grasses, to enhance the smoky, ethereal quality of the plumes that follow the bloom.
In modern or formal designs, the bold, rounded habit of this shrub provides excellent, low-maintenance structure. It contrasts beautifully with chartreuse or silvery-leaved companions, which share its preference for full sun and well-drained soil. Because it is tolerant of clay soil, it can often anchor a mixed border where heavier ground remains consistent after wet periods.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring is the critical time for pruning decisions concerning your Smoketree. If smoky plumes are your goal, restrict pruning to light shaping very early in the season just as buds swell. If you prefer large, richly colored leaves and are willing to sacrifice the summer display, early spring is the time to cut back stems severely to encourage vigorous rejuvenation.
During the summer and fall, maintenance is minimal, focusing mainly on monitoring moisture levels during extreme heat, especially for newly planted shrubs. Once fall color begins, the purplish-red tones provide a final show before leaf drop. Clean up any fallen leaves in late fall to reduce potential overwintering sites for any fungal spores, preparing the Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ for its dormant period.
