Chittamwood (Cotinus obovatus)

Chittamwood (Cotinus obovatus) is a shrub that can grow 3m – 8m tall and 3m – 8m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Chittamwood (Cotinus obovatus).

This plant has several common names including: chittamwood or American smokewood.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: chittamwood, American smokewood
Scientific name: Cotinus obovatus
Plant type: Shrubs
Habit: Bushy
Height: 3m – 8m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Planting type: Low Maintenance

Seasonal colors

How to plant Chittamwood (Cotinus obovatus) – Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shrubs are fundamental elements in any garden.

They add color and interest throughout the seasons with their wide variety of flowers, foliage, fruits, trunks and stems.

Whatever the size or style of your garden, the permanent woody structure or the foliage of evergreen shrubs will give the space shape and dimension.

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Chittamwood (Cotinus obovatus), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Chittamwood (Cotinus obovatus) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Cotinus obovatus likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.

Sunlight

Chittamwood (Cotinus obovatus) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Chittamwood (Cotinus obovatus) – Sten, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons