American Smoke Tree
(Cotinus obovatus)
Family: Anacardiaceae (Sumac family)
Other Common Names: Smoke Tree, Chittamwood
Type: Understory shrub or small deciduous tree
Natural Habitat: In Texas small populations in the hills and bluffs of the Edwards Plateau and North Central Texas; range extends into Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Growth: Growth of up to 25 feet, but more often has a shrubby growth of 10-20 ft.
Deer Resistance: None
Wildlife: Deer love to browse the tender leaves. Protect small trees creatively!
Light Tolerance: Shade, part-shade
Flowers: Greenish-yellow light and airy blooms April-May. Male and Female flowers on separate trees. Blooms from a distance look like smoke rising from the tree, hence the name Smoke Tree.
Fruit: Very small light brown fruit on slender hairy stalks in late May
Leaves: Deciduous, simple, oval. Mostly clumped at the end of small branches. Pale green to purple in color. Leaves change to brilliant red, purple, orange or yellow in autumn making a beautiful fall ornamental. Sun exposure may increase color.
Water Requirements: Average (see below)
Soil Requirements: Alkaline limestone soil characteristic of hills and bluffs in Texas Hill Country.
Planting Instructions: Space at least 10 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.
Watering Instructions after planting: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during the cool and winter months. In a "normal" year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry year, monthly watering may be needed. Second Spring and thereafter: Water monthly only during the periods of drought. Once established, native will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
NICE! Tip: This uncommon tree will bring much interest to your landscape with its beautiful smoky plumes in late spring and showy colors in autumn. Now rare in the wild due to previous harvest for its yield of intense yellow dye. Cultivars showing consistent strong fall colors are available commercially, e.g., "red leaf". Avoid the more common imported non-native.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.