Smoke tree [Golden Spirit] (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’)

Smoke tree [Golden Spirit] (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’) 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 Smoke tree [Golden Spirit] (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’).

This plant is commonly known as smoke tree [Golden Spirit].

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

Plant profile

Common name: smoke tree [Golden Spirit]
Scientific name: Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’
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
Garden type: Informal Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit

Seasonal colors

How to plant Smoke tree [Golden Spirit] (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’) – 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 Smoke tree [Golden Spirit] (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Smoke tree [Golden Spirit] (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’) 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 coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’ likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.

Sunlight

Smoke tree [Golden Spirit] (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Smoke tree [Golden Spirit] (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’) – Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Location credit to the Chanticleer Garden., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons