Royal Purple Smokebush

Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

$89⁹⁹

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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

Royal Purple Smokebush highlights at a glance!

Brand

Plants That Work
Botanical Name

Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
Growing Zones

6, 7, 8, 4, 5
Mature Height

12 - 15 feet
Mature Spread

10 - 12 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

Medium
Soil

Well Drained
Growth Rate

Medium
Fall Color

Purple
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Pruning Time

Early Spring
Bloom Period

Summer
Fragrant

Yes

Growing Zones 4-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Featuring many incredible ornamental features, get garden visitors talking with one of the most striking landscape shrubs available! These special shrubs have a long history of being appreciated. Even George Washington noted their outstanding features!

If you love rich, deep colors, you'll love Royal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'). The pretty, rounded leaves glow burgundy red in the full sunlight. They'll stay beautiful and rich throughout the growing season. Snip a few of the flowering branches to use in indoor cut flower arrangements. You'll love the chance to study the flowers up close.

Airy, pinky-purple panicles start blooming in mid-summer and lasting until frost. Each panicle consists of extremely tiny blossoms growing along an 8-inch cluster of delicate, wire-like stems. The pollinators adore these little blossoms! As the blooms age, downy hairs also develop and billow out to increase the showy visual impact.

The clouds of flowers float high above the leaves in a misty plume. From a distance, you'll enjoy the dramatic visual effect of a "cloud of smoke". The display remains attractive through fall. Growing throughout USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8, these mid-sized shrubs mature to 12-15 foot tall, 10-12 foot wide specimens!

Planting and Application:

Also known as Smoke Trees, Royal Purple Smokebush naturally forms an upright, low-branched, spreading shrub! Try a few in your shrub border to give a strong dash of color all season from spring through frost! Hedges become colorful backdrops and privacy, creating garden rooms and screening with ease.

With incredible deep purple foliage all season long and smoky clouds of bloom, you'll be tempted to give this shrub a starring role in your garden design. Use one as a specimen plant to create a memorable impact in the front yard as a specimen. Create a focal point, limbed up into a multi-branched tree form if you feel up to sparking conversation and curb appeal. You'll need to get ready to answer questions from curious passersby! Go ahead, take credit for your good taste and discernment!

Smokebush is a purple-leaved shrub that looks fantastic all growing season long. They'll be a focal point in summer with their unique blooms, and add warmth to other fall colors as the season comes to a close. Plant one at the corner of your house to anchor your foundation planting. Try this in your backyard, too. These dynamic, dark-colored shrubs will become an important design element.

Have a "utility" area in your landscape that you'd like to hide? Why not plant several Smokebushes 7 feet apart on center? They'll grow together and create an outstanding garden feature in your landscape while screening the ugly view. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.

Use this same idea to create a "vista" or view from your deck or patio. Plant several Smokebushes in a sunny planting bed near your property line. Site it carefully, so you can gain strategic privacy along with an incredible summertime show! Leave the lowest limbs on the shrub for a lush screen all the way to the ground.

Rich, Bold Color All Season Long!
Airy Pinky-Purple Flower Panicles Float High Above the Leaves
Vibrant Purple Foliage Glows in the Sun
Distinctive Sculptural Habit
Gorgeous Specimens, Hedges, Backdrops & Season Long Color

#ProPlantTips for Care:

While the Royal Purple Smokebush can technically survive a location in partial shade, there will be an impact on the foliage. The leaves are greener in shade, and a rich maroon red in full sun. Make the most of the stunning foliage. Select a planting location where it will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.

These deciduous shrubs prefer well-drained soil that doesn't retain water for long. Good air circulation is another important consideration. Please don't plant too close to buildings, fences or walls. Allow this shrub to reach its full glory! Plan for the full mature height and width for the best effect.

It's versatile enough to be limbed up to use as a multi-stemmed patio tree. Prune lower branches back to the main trunks in early spring to shape this special feature. These large, open shrubs can also be renewal pruned every 3-5 years to develop vigorous new shoots and a tighter growth habit. Cut older stems back to a foot tall in spring. You'll sacrifice the year's blooms but will appreciate the improved form.

Apply a 3-inch layer of wood chip mulch around the plant to keep the root system cool and moist. Pull the mulch back from around the woody stems by at least 6 inches for proper air circulation.

Full Sun & Partial Shade
Well-Drained Enriched Soil
Moderate to Low Moisture Once Established
Prune In Spring
Easy Care & Drought Tolerant Once Established

Easy to grow, this deciduous shrub is a must-have for a memorable accent plant in your yard. Add Royal Purple Smokebush to your landscape this season! Enjoy the high-contrast good looks of the Royal Purple Smokebush from Nature Hills Nursery. You'll love this fine choice for many years to come!

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Royal Purple Smoke Bush look like in fall?

In fall, the deep purple foliage turns brilliant shades of orange, red, and scarlet, adding to its seasonal drama.

How big does a Royal Purple Smokebush get?

It typically grows 12-15 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide with a naturally rounded, upright form.

Does Royal Purple Smoke Bush need full sun?

Yes, full sun is best for the deepest purple foliage and strongest flower production.

Can you prune Royal Purple Smoke Bush into a tree form?

Yes, you can limb up the lower branches to create a multi-trunked tree-like form.

Is Royal Purple Smoke Bush deer resistant?

Yes, it's considered deer resistant and is rarely browsed thanks to its aromatic foliage.

different colors

I have two in large containers. One gets more shade & is no where near is purple as the other. I still like them but when they say the leaves are greener in shade, they really are.

Dear Weekend W.,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your Royal Purple Smokebush plants! We’re delighted to hear you’re enjoying them, and your keen observation about the color differences between the more shaded and sunnier plant is absolutely spot-on. As you've noticed, smokebush leaves do tend to display greener hues in shadier spots, while the rich purple tones really deepen with more sunlight exposure.

For container gardening like yours, if you want to enhance the purple color even further, we recommend positioning the plants in a location where they can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Additionally, make sure the soil is well-draining and that you’re consistent with watering—it helps keep the foliage vibrant and healthy. If you have any concerns about maintaining them or would like tips on fertilizing options to boost color, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Thanks again for your thoughtful review, and happy gardening with your lovely smokebushes.

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Looks great around my patio

I just love the color. I was impressed with the quality of what I received. I have a friend who has the same royal purple smokebush & they have trained there's into more of a tree or topiary. Mine is more a big bush. Gets hot here in the summer (South Carolina), planted it in spring & survived a very hot summer here.

Hello Purple Lover,

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely experience with your Royal Purple Smokebush! We’re delighted to hear how vibrant the color is around your patio and that the plant held up well through South Carolina’s challenging summer heat. It’s great you’ve noticed the quality we strive for—it means a lot to us.

Training your smokebush into a tree or topiary can be a wonderful way to shape its growth, so your friend’s approach sounds inspiring! Since your plant is growing more like a large bush, you might consider selective pruning in early spring or late winter to encourage an open structure or to start molding it toward a tree-like form, if you want to experiment. Our plant care guides online have some fantastic pruning tips specifically for smokebush varieties, so feel free to check them out.

One last tip to help with hot climates like yours: keep the soil evenly moist and apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and protect roots from heat stress.

We’re here whenever you need more tips or guidance in your gardening journey—thanks again for your wonderful feedback!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

different colors

I have two in large containers. One gets more shade & is no where near is purple as the other. I still like them but when they say the leaves are greener in shade, they really are.

Hello weekend warrior,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your Royal Purple Smokebushes! You’re absolutely right—these lovely plants do tend to show greener leaves when grown in more shade, while fuller sun encourages that stunning purple color they’re known for. It’s great to hear you’re still enjoying them in their unique settings!

If you're curious about deepening that purple hue, consider placing the sunnier Smokebush where it can soak up at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Also, ensuring the soil drains well and gently avoiding over-fertilizing with high nitrogen will keep those heat and moisture conditions ideal too. Your displays sound wonderful already—plants often surprise us with their adaptability!

If you’d like, feel free to explore our planting care guides online or reach out anytime for personalized tips. We love hearing about your weekend gardening adventures!

Growing with you,
Nature Hills Nursery – Your Trusted Plant Specialists

Looks great around my patio

Hi Purple L.,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with your Royal Purple Smokebush! We’re delighted to hear that the vibrant color and quality of your plant have impressed you. South Carolina summers can be quite demanding, so it’s fantastic that your smokebush not only survived but is thriving after such hot weather.

Training your plant into a tree or topiary form, like your friend’s, sounds like a fun project should you ever want to try a different style! The Royal Purple Smokebush is quite versatile and responds well to selective pruning, which encourages a variety of shapes and growth habits. If you want to experiment, heading into early spring before new growth starts is usually the best time for shaping. We’d be happy to send along some pruning tips or technique guides if you’re interested!

Thank you again for your thoughtful review—your feedback not only helps us but also guides others considering this stunning shrub. Wishing you continued enjoyment around your patio oasis!

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Drought tolerant

This plant is tough. My neighbor forgot to water while I was gone on vacation and everything in my garden was suffering when I returned home, except the smokebush. I would recommend this plant in an area that gets short on water.

Dear Old P.,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Royal Purple Smokebush! We’re delighted to hear what a resilient and drought-tolerant plant it is, especially after your vacation. It’s always reassuring to know that some garden favorites can thrive even when watering schedules get mixed up. Your recommendation will surely help other gardeners looking for hardy plants that can endure dry spells.

For continued success with your smokebush, remember it prefers well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight, which both contribute to its impressive drought tolerance. If you ever want to explore companion plants with similar tough characteristics or tips on how to make your garden even more water-wise, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help.

Thanks again for your thoughtful review; we truly appreciate it!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

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Royal Purple Smokebush

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