Purple Smoke Bush

Cotinus coggygria 'Purpureus'

$184⁹⁹

In Stock
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Plant Size

#5 Container

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Purple Smoke Bush highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Cotinus coggygria 'Purpureus'
Growing Zones

5 - 8
Mature Height

10 - 15 Feet
Mature Spread

10 - 12 Feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

Medium
Soil

Well Drained Soil
Growth Rate

Fast
Flower Color

Yellow in Purple Mist-like Plumes
Fall Color

Purple
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Fragrant

Yes
Pruning Time

Early Spring
Bloom Period

Late Spring

Growing Zones

Find Your Growing Zone!

Gorgeous Purple Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria 'Purpureus') is an incredible and colorful shrub with dramatically reddish-purple new ovular leaves that are leathery and age to green with purplish overcast for the rest of the growing season. Also spelled as one word Smokebush, the foliage might be remarkable, and so are its summer blooms! The 'smoke' in Smoke Bush comes from the puffs of flowering stems that can be filled with inconspicuous yellow blooms covered in pinkish hairs.

The clouds of dainty flower puffs reach upward and outward in plumes of smoke-like clusters. These delightful flowering stems are smokey reddish-purple with hints of pink and violet. These wonderful puffs have a pleasant floral scent that will greet you when you arrive home or wake up in the morning to step out for your morning paper. Your pollinators will seek out these tiny blooms and provide you with an additional show!

Fast-growing Purple Smoke Bushes are wonderfully hardy throughout USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8 and grow 10-15 feet in height and 10-12 feet in width. The May to June blooms remain on the shrub for the rest of the growing season and occasionally produce seeds that the birds love.

Planting and Application:

This shrub makes a fantastic specimen near your front entry or beside your property line. The deep purples and reds of the Purple Smoke Tree also make it a great plant as a privacy screen along the roadside or fence line. The reddish-purple of Smoke Bushes pairs well with bright greens and yellow flowers and foliage plants alike! You'll create fantastically colored hedges and interest in your gardens as vivid backdrops and focal points!

Purple Smokebush may be a shrub, but you can train it into multi-stemmed tree forms! Creating a very unique and colorful specimen, both in the ground and in insulated containers, anywhere sunny! Adding a curious accent and conversation piece to your seating areas, porches, and patios, or even balconies, to provide shade and interest all growing season. Pair with the larger Cooke's Purple™ Smokebush for varied heights in the garden.

Smoke-Like Plumes of Reddish Purple
Red to Reddish-Purple Foliage Ages Greener
Pollinators & Vivid Color
Train as a Multi-Trunk Tree Form
Colorful Hedges, Specimens & Garden Focal Points

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Smoke Bushes are easy to grow! This exciting plant loves to show off its unique colors in full sun, where Smoke Bush develops the best color. They perform in a well-drained area of your yard. It thrives in almost any soil type and prefers moderate moisture. These ornamentals appreciate a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch year-round. Prune your shrub if needed in very early spring to shape and train.

Full Sun
Moderate Moisture Needs
Well-Drained Enriched Soil
Appreciates Mulch & Pruning in Very Early Spring
Deer Resistant & Easy to Grow

Richly colored and whimsical, the Purple Smokebush is a spectacular addition to your landscape and adds bold color and great shape. Don't miss out on your opportunity to plant a statement piece in your landscape, buy one today at Nature Hills!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Purple Smoke Bush?

Purple Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria) is a deciduous shrub or small tree known for its deep purple foliage and wispy, smoke-like flower clusters that appear in summer. It's prized for dramatic color and texture in landscapes.

How tall does Purple Smoke Bush grow?

Most varieties grow 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. Pruning can also help maintain a more compact shape.

Where should I plant a Purple Smoke Bush?

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Full sun encourages the best leaf color and flowering. It tolerates a range of soils but prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH.

Is Purple Smoke Bush deer resistant?

Yes, Purple Smoke Bush is considered deer resistant, making it a great choice for gardens where browsing is an issue.

When and how do you prune a Purple Smoke Bush?

Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. You can shape it lightly or cut it back hard to rejuvenate and encourage vibrant foliage.