Royal Purple Smoke Bush

Royal Purple Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple') is a deciduous shrub that grows 3 to 4m high and about 3m wide, with rounded leaves of deep maroon-purple. The colour holds right through summer, which is rare in a purple-leaved shrub, then turns scarlet in autumn. Purplish-pink plumes hover over the plant in summer.

Why you'll love it

• Purple that lasts. The leaves stay deep maroon-purple from spring to autumn in full sun and do not fade to green in the heat.
• Scarlet finish. In autumn the foliage turns bright scarlet before it drops.
• Smoky summer plumes. Fine, feathery purplish-pink flower heads sit above the leaves like a haze.
• Tough once established. It is frost hardy and drought tolerant, and it grows well in lean soil.
• A strong contrast plant. Dark, rounded leaves set off grasses, silver foliage and pale flowers.

Where it works best

Mixed borders. Plant it mid to back of a bed as the dark note among lighter planting.

Feature shrub. One plant in an open, sunny position with 3m of space makes a rounded specimen.

Loose hedge or screen. Plant 2m apart for a deciduous screen. It suits an informal line, not a tightly clipped hedge.

Growing Royal Purple Smoke Bush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun is needed for the darkest leaves. It grows best in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and is frost hardy. It does not suit the humid subtropics.

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 regularly for the first two summers, then only in extended dry weather. Go easy on fertiliser: a light feed in spring is enough.

Pruning. Prune lightly after the plumes fade to keep a rounded shape, or cut back hard in late winter for larger leaves and fewer plumes. Wear gloves when pruning, as the sap can irritate skin.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Royal Purple Smoke Bush as single plants in 300mm and 400mm 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 in a sunny, well-drained position and water in well. 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

• Browse deciduous shrubs
• Autumn colour plants
• Plants that handle frost
• Frost tolerant plants in Australia

Common questions

How big does Royal Purple get?

About 3 to 4m high and 3m wide if left alone. Annual pruning in late winter will keep it closer to 2m.

Why has a branch wilted and died?

Sudden dieback of one section can be verticillium wilt, a soil fungus that is worse in wet, poorly drained ground. Remove the affected wood and improve the drainage.

Will it grow in a humid coastal subtropical garden?

It is not suited there. Smoke bushes want a cold winter and a drier summer to grow and colour well.