European Smoketree
Cotinus coggygria
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Nepal, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine
Robert Flogaus-Faust
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Anacardiaceae
- Genus:
- Cotinus
- Species:
- Cotinus coggygria
- USDA Symbol:
- COCO10
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow, orange, red, purple
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire or cutting.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, rocky, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to rocky slopes and hillsides
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds may have variable dormancy; cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI