‘Grace’ smoketree (Cotinus × ‘Grace’)

 

Cotinus × ‘Grace’, the ‘Grace’ smoketree, is a small flowering tree. Although the individual flowers are small, what produces the smoky show, are tiny pinkish hairs at the base of each flower stem. These plumy hairs continue to elongate and persist
after flowering is finished. With hundreds of flowers on a stalk, the resulting smoky show is striking.

This cultivar is an interspecies hybrid of a purple form of the European/Asian
Cotinus coggygria and the American Cotinus obovatus. They were first crossed in 1978 by Peter Dummer of Hillier’s Nursery in Winchester, England. In 1983, Grace received an award from the Royal Horticulture Society.

‘Grace’ is characterized by a mix of features from each parent. Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ is a large shrub, averaging 12­15 feet in both height and width. The other parent, Cotinus obovatus, native to the southeastern United States, is a small tree reaching between 20­30 feet in both height and width, with bluish green
summer foliage that changes to yellow, orange, and red for autumn.

‘Grace’ makes a great accent with its stunning flowers and foliage. Its leaves are a combination of the typical colors of its parents, with new growth starting
iridescent purple and maturing to bluish green. The fall color is typically brilliant orange or red. Grace produces a floral show with large pink clouds of plumy
panicles in summer, as does ‘Velvet Cloak.’ The flowering stalks cover the tree,
giving the impression of billowing smoke.

‘Grace’ is widely available. Once established, it is fairly maintenance free and
relatively disease resistant. A vigorous grower, it will reach up to 20 feet. Overall,
a fine small specimen tree to plant in your garden.

 

Script and audio by Quinn Lavigne '17

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