Smokebush 'Royal Purple'
Smokebush 'Royal Purple'
Smokebush 'Royal Purple'

Smokebush 'Royal Purple'

A.V.K. Nursery Holdings Inc./Abbotsford Nursery Inc.

$44.99
Title

Command attention with this regal landscape masterpiece! 'Royal Purple' is celebrated for its deep, velvety wine-red foliage that holds its rich, dark color all summer long without fading. In mid-summer, the shrub is enveloped in a breathtaking haze of pinkish-purple, feathery flower plumes that look like wisps of smoke dancing above the dark leaves. It is the ultimate choice for adding dramatic contrast and a touch of luxury to your garden.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

10-15' H x W

Zone:

4-8

Watering:

Medium

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Royal Purple Smokebush, Royal Purple Smoketree, Purple Smoke Bush

Scientific Name:

Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

Type:

Ornamental / Flowering Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: 10–15 feet tall and wide.
  • Growth Habit: Upright, spreading, and multi-stemmed.
  • Form: Broadly upright to rounded.
  • Growth Rate: Medium.
  • Longevity: Long-lived (30–50 years).

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full Sun.
  • Soil Preferences: Best in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils.
  • Soil Tolerance: Adaptable to a wide range of soils including clay, rocky, and poor soils.
  • Watering: Prefers consistent moisture but cannot tolerate soggy soil or "wet feet."

Special Features:

Award of Garden Merit; Deer resistant; Black Walnut tolerant; Drought tolerant; Salt tolerant; Exceptional colour contrast.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom: Spectacular "smoke-like" pink-purple plumes in June and July.
  • Fall Colour: Foliage transitions to a brilliant, translucent red and orange.
  • Bark: Scaly, grey-brown bark provides texture in winter.

Garden Value:

Ideal as a bold specimen plant, a dramatic backdrop for perennial borders, or as a striking accent in a mass planting. Its dark stems and leaves are highly sought after for floral arrangements.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife: The airy flower clusters provide nectar for bees and butterflies.
  • Human: Excellent for creating high-contrast focal points and provides great privacy when used as a tall hedge.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

Plant in a spot with excellent drainage. Space 10–12 feet apart for a continuous hedge or screen. Avoid high-wind areas to protect the delicate flower plumes.

Care:

  • Light: Full sun is required to maintain the dark purple foliage; leaves may turn green in too much shade.
  • Moisture: Water regularly during the first two seasons; becomes drought-tolerant once the root system is established.
  • Maintenance & Fertilization: Minimal pruning required; apply a slow-release fertilizer in early spring before new growth appears.

Tolerances:

Drought, Deer, Clay Soil, Black Walnut, Rocky Soil

Tips For Success:

To get the largest, most vibrant leaves, you can prune the plant back hard (coppice) in late winter, though this will reduce the amount of "smoke" flowers that summer. Use mulch to keep the root zone cool.
Fruit Profile