Cotinus obovatus

Cotinus obovatus, commonly called American smoke tree, is a small, deciduous, rounded, Texas native tree or large, upright shrub typically growing 20-30' tall. Smoketree gets its common name not from the 6-10" flower clusters (tiny, insignificant, dioecious, yellowish-green flowers) which bloom in June but from the billowy hairs (attached to elongated stalks on the spent flower clusters) which turn a smoky pink to purplish pink in summer, thus covering the tree with fluffy, hazy, smoke-like puffs. Bluish-green leaves are, as the species name suggests, obovate. Foliage turns various colors in the fall (including yellow, red, orange, and reddish purple) and produces some of the best fall colors of any of the native American trees and shrubs.

Height: 20’-30’
Spread 20’-30’
Bloom: May-June
Light: Full Sun
Water: Moderate
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Origin: Southern United States
Deer Resistant: Yes