Does smoke bush flower?
Smoketree, or smokebush, is an upright spreading deciduous shrub or small tree in the Anacardiaceae (cashew or poison ivy) family. It will provide a wide range of garden interest throughout the season. The smoky pink flowers are showy, wispy, and airy and appear in mid-summer. Although the smoke tree is short lived with a lifespan of about 20 years, it requires little maintenance. The Fall color is highly variable, but at its best produces very attractive shades of yellow, orange, red and purplish-red.
Is smoke bush poisonous?
Being in the cashew and sumac family, the sap of the Smoke Tree is mildly toxic as it does have the potential to cause skin irritation in humans. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Tobacco use causes more than 7 million deaths per year, making it the most deadly plant in the world.
Do smoke bushes smell?
The puffs consist of many filaments which make up a cloud of color on the current season’s growth. And, if one crushes a smoke bush’s leaves, they have a smell similar to a radish. The name “smoke bush” comes from the billowy hairs attached to the flower clusters which remain in place through the summer, turning a smoky pink to purplish-pink as the weeks progress.
Is a smoke bush fast growing?
A Word to the Wise: Don’t expect smoke bushes to stay small! They are fast growing, and not good if you’re trying to keep shrubs under four feet tall. Know that you can, however, prune to promote bushiness to make a fuller plant. Smoke Tree Spacing Larger varieties that grow 10+ feet tall and wide should be planted at least 10 feet away from structures and other plants. Smaller dwarf varieties that can be planted as hedge or in groups can be planted a couple feet apart, allowing them space to grow while also creating that hedge look.Smoke bush becomes more drought tolerant after the plant becomes well rooted. If planting in containers, use one dwarf plant per 14-inch (35 cm) pot. Smoke bush is sometimes used in outdoor bonsai.Smoke bush plants should be placed at least 10 feet from your house and other structures. Planting too close can damage the foundation.Cotinus prefer full sun and well-draining soil, but some varieties can tolerate dappled shade. Growth rates also vary, but fast-growing varieties can add three to five feet per year. This smoke bush is planted in the garden outside my Tenant House. Smoke bushes do well in almost any soil type and most any pH level.
Where is the best place to plant a smoke bush?
They thrive in sun or dappled shade, but those cultivars with colourful leaves tend to produce the most vibrant colour when they’re grown in full sun. For the best display of flowers, only prune if it’s necessary, giving shrubs a light trim in spring. Avoid pruning shrubs in winter that will bloom in spring. Those buds live through the winter, ready to open in spring. If you prune these plants in winter, you’ll be cutting off flower buds.