Cotinus coggygria

Cotinus coggygria (03/07/2015, Walworth, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Early summer

Soil: Moist, well-drained

Eventual Height: 5m

Eventual Spread: 5m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Anacardiaceae

Cotinus coggygria is a deciduous shrub with an open bushy habit. Its dark green/ glaucus waxy leaves are orbicular to ovate with entire margins, up to 7cm long and 6cm across. Its leaves turn red/ orange/ yellow in autumn before they fall. Its flower up to 1cm across with 5 pale yellow petals. Its flowers are produced in large fluffy plumes of pink and are up to 30cm long. The flowers are either male or female. Its fruit is a drupe with a fleshy outer coating and up to 3mm across.

Cotinus coggygria Seed Head (03/07/2015, Walworth, London)

Cotinus coggygria, commonly known as the Smoke Tree or Smoke Bush, is native to southern Europe, central Asia and from the Himalaya to northern China. Cotinus coggygria is synonymous with Rhus cotinus.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cotinus is derived from the ancient Greek  kotinus meraning ‘Wild Olive’. Coggygria is derived from the ancient Greek name for the ‘Smoke Tree’.

Cotinus coggygria Leaf (03/07/2015, Walworth, London)

The landscape architect may find Cotinus coggygria useful as a large, ornamental deciduous shrub with attractive summer flowers and autumn colour. Once established this plant is drought tolerant.

Cotinus coggygria  prefers a moderately-fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It will tolerate most pH of soil.

Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ requires little maintenance. If necessary it may be pruned hard in March.

Landscape Architecture

Pistacia chinensis

Pistacia chinensis (30/11/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Early spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 20m

Eventual Spread: 12m

Hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Anacardiaceae

Pistacia chinensis is a deciduous tree with a rounded habit. Its mid green leaves are pinnate with up to 12 leaflets, up to 25cm long and 15cm broad. Its leaflets are lanceolate to ovate with entire margins, up to 10cm long and 25mm broad. Its leaves turn red/ orange in autumn before they fall in autumn. This tree is dioecious, producing separate male and female plants. Its bark is dark brown. Its yellow/ green flowers appearing before its leaves, are produced in panicles. Its male are 7cm long and female are up to 20cm long. Its fruit is a small drupe which is initially red, turning blue when ripe.

Pistacia chinensis Autumn Leaf (30/11/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Pistacia chinensis, commonly known as Chinese Pistache or Chinese Pitachio, is native to central and western China. In its native habitat it grows in mountain forests on rock soils.

The etymological root of the binomial name Pistacia is from the Greek, a name give to this genus by Nicander in 200BC. Chinensis is derived from the Latin meaning ‘from China’.

The landscape architect may find Pistacia chinensis useful as a small tree with attractive autumn foliage. Once established this tree is drought tolerant.

Pistacia chinensis Bark (30/11/2014, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Pistacia chinensis fruit are attractive to birds ad some mammals.

Pistacia chinensis prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will tolerate poor soils.

Pistacia chinensis requires little maintenance.

Cotinus obovatus

Cotinus obovatus (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 10m

Eventual Spread: 10m

Hardiness: 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family: Anacardiaceae

Cotinus obovatus is a large deciduous conical shrub, eventually becoming a small rounded tree. Its dark green leaves are obovate with entire margins, up to 15cm long and 8cm broad. Its leaves emerge pink/ purple in spring and turn purple/ brilliant red in autumn before they fall. On mature trees its bark is light grey and flakes off. Its pink/ grey dioecious flowers appear in plumes and are up to 30cm long, these are not self fertile. Its fruit is a small kidney shaped drupe.

Cotinus obovatus, commonly known as Chittamwood or American Smokewood, is native to south eastern USA. This shrub is rare in its native habitat. Cotinus obovatus is synonymous with Cotinus americanus.

Cotinus obovatus Autumn Leaf (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Cotinus is derived from the ancient Greek  kotinus meaning ’Wild Olive’. Obovatus is derived from the Latin ovare ‘to lay eggs’, in reference to the shape of its leaves.

The landscape architect may find Cotinus obovatus useful as a large dramatic specimen shrub which provides interest in spring , summer and autumn.

Ecologically, Cotinus obovatus seeds are attractive to some birds.

Cotinus obovatus Bark (20/10/2012, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Cotinus obovatus their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Cotinus obovatus prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Cotinus obovatus requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried out during the winter months.

Landscape Architecture