Shrub · Anacardiaceae family
smoke bush
Cotinus coggygria
In short a 10-second read
Smoke bush (shrub) grows to 3–5 m tall and 3–5 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil. It flowers in June–July; the flowers are pink or yellow. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 3–5 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: little
Soil: loamy, gravelly, sandy
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
June–July · pink or yellow
Pruning
remove dead and damaged growth (as needed); hard rejuvenation pruning (as needed)
Planting
container plant: October–April
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does smoke bush flower?
In June–July; the flowers are pink or yellow.
Does smoke bush tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does smoke bush need?
At maturity 3–5 m wide and 3–5 m tall; recommended spacing 300 cm.
Does smoke bush survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (13)
- GBIF — Cotinus coggygria
- NC State Extension
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS - Cotinus coggygria
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow shrubs
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia, Czechia, Germany
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