Smokebush

About Smokebush

Smokebush is a large shrub or small tree grown for its airy summer plumes that look like puffs of pink smoke, and for purple, gold or blue-green leaves with bright fall color. It comes from southern Europe to China; the native American smoketree (C. obovatus) of the southern US is a bigger cousin with excellent fall color (NC State). It is related to poison ivy, so the sap can irritate sensitive skin.

Hardy in zones 4-8 (NC State).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Plant container shrubs in spring or fall and water deeply until established (UMN).

Soil

Well-drained soil of almost any texture and pH; drought tolerant once established (NC State).

Test the soil before planting; mature shrubs in decent soil need little or no fertilizer (Clemson).

Feeding

• Spring to early summer after new growth starts, only if a soil test shows a need: slow-release complete fertilizer in a 3:1:2 ratio, or what the soil test calls for. Spread evenly from the trunk out to the drip line and water it in; a typical soil-test rate for shrubs is about 2 lb of 12-6-6 per 100 sq ft (Clemson). Follow a soil test.

Water is what new shrubs need most: daily for the first 2 weeks, every 2-3 days through week 12, then weekly until the roots spread (at least two growing seasons), using about a quarter to a third of the nursery pot's volume each time (UMN). Once established, smokebush is drought tolerant (NC State).

Harvest

Smoky plumes 6-8 inches long appear in midsummer on last year's growth. For the strongest leaf color, cut stems back to 6-8 inches above the ground in late winter, which gives up that year's plumes; to keep some flowers, leave about a third of the old stems (NC State).

Varieties (6)

NC State documents only a few cultivars.

Diseases and problems

Verticillium wilt, Rust, Leaf spot

In the kitchen

Safety: A relative of poison ivy: the resinous sap can cause a skin rash, especially in people sensitive to poison ivy (NC State).

Pets: Not on the ASPCA toxic plant lists.