Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’
SIZE: 15’ tall by 15’ wide
HARDINESS: zones 5 to 8
LIGHT: full sun
SHAPE: loose and open
RATE: slow to moderate
FLOWERS: showy purple, smoke-like visual effect, early summer, develop only on older wood
OTHER FEATURES:
Rich reddish-purple fall color
Showy, nearly black bark
Drought tolerant
Very few insect pests
Deer resistant
POSSIBLE LANDSCAPE USES:
Small accent “tree” for a patio, small spaces, or a mixed bed
Accent shrub in a shrub border
See Tips for Designing your home landscape.
PRUNING:
Prune after flowering and before July 1st.
To maintain a round shrub form, remove or shorten spindly branches.
To prune into a (multi-stemmed) tree, select between one and five primary vertical stems to be saved. Prune out all the others at ground level. Then prune all side branches from the ground level up to the desired height (approximately 6’ for a large plant).
To promote vigorous shoot growth with greater color, this plant can be cut back to the ground each winter. However, it will not produce flowers if pruned in this way because flowers only develop on older wood.
Learn more about Basic Pruning Principles.
COMPANION PLANTS:
For an orange-red-purple analogic color scheme, use dwarf fothergilla for reddish-orange fall color, sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ for dusty pink flowers, or prairie dropseed (an ornamental grass) for pink-brown blooms and orange fall color. Prairie dropseed will also add diversity in plant texture.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
Bark is thin; avoid mechanical injury.
Water regularly during the first year to establish a healthy root system.
Do not overwater or plant in consistently wet soils.
Caution: This plant is poisonous to humans if ingested. Handling this plant may also cause skin irritations.