Grace Smoke Bush

Grace Smoke Bush (Cotinus 'Grace') is a vigorous deciduous shrub that reaches 4 to 5m high and about 4m wide if left unpruned. It is a hybrid between the European smoke bush and the American smoke tree, and it has the largest leaves and biggest plumes of the group: wine-red in spring, darker through summer and brilliant orange-scarlet in autumn.

Why you'll love it

• Three seasons of leaf colour. Large, soft, oval leaves open wine-red, deepen through summer and finish orange-scarlet before they fall.
• Big pink plumes. In summer the plant is topped with large, airy pink flower heads that give the smoke bush its name.
• Fast to fill a space. It is the most vigorous smoke bush we sell and makes a large shrub or small multi-stemmed tree quickly.
• Frost hardy. Cold winters suit it, and they improve the autumn colour.
• Takes hard pruning. Cut it back each winter and it responds with long shoots and extra large leaves.

Where it works best

Back of a border. Use the dark foliage as a backdrop for silver, lime green and pink planting in front.

Informal screen. Plant 2.5 to 3m apart for a deciduous summer screen that colours in autumn.

Feature shrub or small tree. Leave it unpruned on several stems, or lift the lower branches to make a small tree for a lawn.

Growing Grace Smoke Bush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the richest colour; in shade the leaves turn greenish. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is frost hardy. It is not a plant for the humid subtropics or tropics, where it grows weakly and colours poorly.

Soil. Any well-drained soil suits it, including poor and stony ground. Avoid rich, wet soil: lush feeding dulls the leaf colour, and poorly drained ground puts smoke bushes at risk of verticillium wilt.

Water and feed. Water through the first two summers. Established plants need only a deep soak in long dry spells. A light mulch and a small feed in spring is plenty.

Pruning. For plumes, prune lightly or not at all, as the flowers form on older wood. For the biggest leaves, cut the whole plant hard in late winter, which gives strong coloured shoots but fewer plumes. Wear gloves, as the sap may irritate skin.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Grace Smoke Bush in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and as single plants in 300mm pots. It is deciduous, so plants sent in winter arrive as bare stems and plants sent in the warmer months arrive in leaf. Plant at the same depth as the pot, water in well and give it room: it grows quickly once settled. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Deciduous shrubs
• Plants for autumn colour
• Frost hardy plants
• Plants that change colour through the year

Common questions

How is Grace different from Royal Purple?

Grace is a larger, faster hybrid with bigger, softer wine-red leaves and larger pink plumes. Royal Purple is more compact, with smaller, darker maroon-purple leaves.

Why are the leaves on my smoke bush turning green?

Usually too much shade, or soil that is too rich and wet. Move the balance towards full sun, lean soil and less feeding.

Can I keep it smaller than 4m?

Yes. Cut it back hard in late winter each year and it will stay around 2m with very large leaves, at the cost of most of the plumes.