Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria 'Ancot' GOLDEN SPIRIT) is a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub native from southern Europe to central China that earns its common name not from its flowers but from the billowy, feathery hairs that emerge from spent flower clusters, creating a cloud-like effect in the landscape. Hardy in zones 5 through 8, this upright, loose-spreading shrub matures to 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, thriving in full sun with moderate water and moderate maintenance. The tiny, insignificant yellowish flowers appear in branching terminal panicles (6 to 8 inches long) from May through July, but the real show comes from the silky, hair-covered seed clusters that follow, transforming the plant into a smoky, ethereal presence.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-8
180in H x 180in W
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High
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The smoketree's signature feature is those extraordinary plumes of billowy hairs that turn the entire shrub into a gossamer cloud from late spring through summer. Incredibly tough and adaptable, it handles clay soil, drought, and deer browsing without complaint, while also tolerating poor, rocky soils that would defeat lesser plants. This shrub asks little in return: full sun, well-drained soil, and moderate water deliver a shrub that needs only light pruning if you want to enjoy those stunning smoke-like blooms.
Smoketree excels as a hedge or screening shrub, where its multi-stemmed form and moderate mature size create a natural, organic barrier. The plant's loose-spreading habit and dramatic late-spring through summer flowering make it valuable in mixed borders and specimen plantings where its ethereal plumes can be appreciated from a distance.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
If bloom and the signature smoky effect are your priority, prune very lightly in early spring only as needed to maintain shape. For gardeners more interested in foliage display, stems may be cut back hard in early spring to a framework to induce growth of vigorous new shoots with larger leaves. Avoid heavy pruning during the growing season, as this will sacrifice the delicate flowers and plumes that make smoketree special.
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“Cotinus coggygria has traveled far from its native range spanning southern Europe to central China, becoming a beloved ornamental in temperate gardens worldwide. The 'Ancot' GOLDEN SPIRIT selection represents the modern plant breeder's work to enhance the ornamental qualities of this ancient species, offering gardeners a refined version of the classic smoketree.”