About
This compact shrub reaches approximately 1.8 meters in height and width. In spring, its leaves appear with a bronze tint, transitioning to a deeper green with hints of purple and red through the summer months. As autumn approaches, foliage takes on vibrant hues of yellow, purple, and red before shedding. During summer, the plant produces soft, pink flower clusters.
About the genus
Cotinus consists of sizable deciduous shrubs or small trees characterized by simple, obovate leaves that typically display vibrant autumn hues. During the summer, they produce inconspicuous flowers clustered in large, fluffy panicles, which later develop into colorful fruit.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing, North-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade; for best leaf colour grow in full sun
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1 or pruning group 7 to produce large foliage
- Propagation
- Propagate by layering in late winter or early spring or root softwood cuttings in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), verticillium wilt and powdery mildews in dry conditions