Practical
Plants

Cotinus coggygria

Smoke Tree

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Cotinus genus in the family Anacardiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cotinus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
5 m
Spread
5 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Skin contact with this plant can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[15]. Though related to several poisonous species, this species is definitely not poisonous[25].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves[14][10]. They are possibly edible[2][9]. Some caution is advised. A volatile oil in the leaves contains pinene and camphene[10]. One report suggests that the essential oil contained in the flowers and leaves has a mango-like odour[7]. We have tried these leaves and really would not recommend them to anyone[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The yellow wood is used as a cholagogue, febrifuge and for eye ailments[17].

Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil is obtained from the leaves and flowers[2]. It has a mango-like smell[7]. Is it edible[K]? A yellow to orange dye is obtained from the root and stem[1][18][4][6][23]. It is somewhat fugitive though[18]. The leaves and bark are a good source of tannins[20][24][7]. Wood - ornamental. Used for cabinet making, picture frames[7]. The twigs are used in basketry[7].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
S. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Dry hillsides, rocky places and open woods, usually on limestone, to 1300 metres[19][22][28].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[26][5][15]. It should germinate in the spring. Slightly immature or 'green' seed, harvested when it has fully developed but before it dries on the plant, gives the best results[5]. Warm stratify stored seed for 2 - 3 months at 15°c, then cold stratify for 2 - 3 months[8]. Germination can be very slow, often taking 12 months or more at 15°c[8]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seed has a long viability and should store for several years[5]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[5]. Trench layering in spring[15].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tolerates most soils[16]. Prefers a well-drained dry or moist soil in a sunny position[3][15], doing better in a soil that is not very rich[4][21]. Prefers a fertile but not over-rich soil[13]. Tolerates light shade[13]. Established plants are drought tolerant. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[12], though die-back often occurs at the tips of shoots during the winter[16]. Plants are slow to establish but are then quite fast growing when young though they slow down with age[16]. Hybridizes with C. obovatus[11]. A number of cultivars have been developed for their ornamental value[11][15]. The purple-leafed cultivars are susceptible to mildew[16]. Plants flower on wood that is at least 3 years old[16]. Any pruning is best done in the spring[16]. Branches sometimes wilt, especially after hard pruning, and these should be removed[11]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[27][15]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

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  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  7. Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  10. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩

  13. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  14. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  15. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  16. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  17. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  19. Polunin. O. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Oxford University Press 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-19-217626-9

    ↩

  20. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  21. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

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  22. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  23. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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  24. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  25. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  26. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

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  27. RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00

    ↩

  28. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

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