American smoketree is native to the southern United States, growing in the rocky mountain soils from Kentucky, Tennessee, and northern Alabama westward to Oklahoma. Growth can also be found in central Texas. Its native habitat includes limestone glades and rocky limestone bluffs on north or east facing slopes. It is a medium-maintenance small tree or upright shrub in the Anacardiaceae family. It prefers a well-drained infertile loam soil in the full sun but does tolerate a wide range of soils including clay and shallow rocky soil. The sap from American Smoketree has a strong odor. The name smoketree comes from the airy smoky pink to pink-purple hairs on the spent flower clusters that give the tree a hazy, smoke-like puffy appearance. The summer "smoke" display makes this a striking accent plant. It also produces some of the best fall color of the native American trees and shrubs. It looks great massed or planted at the back of a shrub border. It does use a fair amount of water, especially in dry conditions. This plant is resistant to damage by deer. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Sometimes leaf spots, rust, and wilt can cause issues on stressed trees. Overwatering and over fertilizing can be detrimental. Avoid planting in low-lying areas where soil conditions can remain wet. VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “ Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping ” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University . More information on Cotinus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 11 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Oval; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Blue-green leaves are simple and obovate to elliptical, wedge-shaped (cuneate) at the base, slight notch at the apex, and its widest point is above the middle. This is where the species name obovatus comes from. Fantastic fall color.
Flowers are dioecious insignificant, however, hairs attached make for a good show especially on male plants. The 6-10" panicles sport long, red or purple hair-like petioles that create a smoky appearance. Young flowers can be yellow, turning to pink or purple as they age.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Pink
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Few fruits are produced pale brown with 1 seed, dry oblong, 5 mm long. Fruit Season of interest: Summer
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Furrowed and ridged gray-brown bark that has flaky scaly plates as it ages.
Stem detail
Multi-trunked, with gnarled limbs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southern United States
Distribution
KY, AL, TN, TX, OK
Wildlife value
Cover plant for wildlife, including birds. Butterflies are attracted.