Plant · GBIF taxon 3190522
Smokebush
Cotinus coggygriaAlso known as European Smoketree, Smoke Tree, Venetian Sumac, Dyer's Sumac
Eurasian smokebush billows across dry rocky slopes and cultivated landscapes in midsummer, wrapped in cloud-like haze created by thousands of feathery, sterile flower stalks. Its rounded leaves turn vibrant shades of orange, pink, and deep purple in autumn, making it a prominent ornamental shrub. The plant secretes a pungent sap that historically supplied yellow dye for textiles and tannin for leather working.
OrnamentalDeciduousFlowering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
- Browsing Deer
- Aphids
ThreatsHabitat loss in native range, localized fungal wilts
HabitatsRocky hillsides, dry scrublands, open woodlands, garden landscapes
Life span30–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderSapindales
- FamilyAnacardiaceae
- GenusCotinus
- SpeciesCotinus coggygria
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sap from broken stems can irritate sensitive skin; wear gloves when pruning.
- Why it is dangerous
- The sap contains volatile terpenes and sumac-related compounds that cause allergic contact dermatitis and skin blistering in sensitive individuals.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by smooth rounded leaves and prominent pinkish-purple plume-like flower stalks in summer.
- What to do
- Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning freshly cut branches, and wash skin promptly if exposed to sap.
Responsible observation
- Pruning: Cut back stems in early spring if cultivating for larger leaves and vigorous smoky plumes.
- Observation: Look closely at the hazy blooms to see that they consist of fuzzy sterile flower stalks.
- Autumn Color: Revisit in late autumn to observe the foliage transform into brilliant red and purple hues.
Close Relative Sten Porse / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Economic Relative THOR / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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