Old Fashioned Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria 'Old Fashioned'): A Soothing, Color-Shifting Shrub

In a garden awash with high-saturation foliage — purple, chartreuse, chocolate, gold — Cotinus coggygria 'Old Fashioned' offers a welcome visual respite. Introduced in 2006 (not an heirloom, despite the name), this deciduous shrub provides a cooling, sophisticated presence that harmonizes rather than competes with its flashier neighbors.

Henny Kolster

Quick Reference Guide

• Botanical name: Cotinus coggygria 'Old Fashioned'
• Common name: Old Fashioned smoke bush
• USDA zones: 5–10
• Water needs: Average; drought tolerant once established
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Mature size: 6 feet tall, 5 feet wide
• Benefits: Cut flowers, deer resistant (reported), drought tolerant
• Seasonal interest: Spring, summer, fall
• Planting time: Spring or fall
• Caution: Species can be invasive in some regions; check local extension office.

Distinguishing Traits

The oval leaves emerge a rich purple, then mature to a cool, bluish-green — a rare, soothing tone in the garden. Ruby-red stems and leaf veins provide a subtle, elegant contrast. In spring, the shrub is frosted with yellow-green flower panicles. But autumn is the grand finale: foliage ignites in fiery shades of red, orange, and hot pink. When backlit by low sun, the leaves glow with an almost luminous quality.

Le jardinet

Concept Plants

Design Applications

Site this shrub where backlighting — morning or late afternoon sun — can illuminate its foliage. It works beautifully as a specimen, in mixed borders, or even in a large container. For a serene, monochromatic scheme, pair it with 'Tasmanian Tiger' spurge (Euphorbia characias 'Tasmanian Tiger') and 'Quicksilver' hebe (Hebe pimeleoides). For gentle contrast, plant near purple fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense). For bold drama, combine with golden locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia') and orange daylilies (Hemerocallis 'Flasher').

Le jardinet

Le jardinet

Planting and Care

• Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained.
• Fertilizer: Balanced feed in spring, or simply mulch with quality compost.
• Coppicing (optional): On established plants (3+ years), cut stems back to 2 feet in early spring. This sacrifices flowers but produces larger, more dramatic foliage and a compact 4-foot form by summer.

A sophisticated, multi-season shrub that brings calm and color to the garden without shouting.

Concept Plants