3-colour mix of smoke trees (Cotinus coggygria) - purple, green and golden foliage - 12 cm pot - Height 35 cm - Set of 3

Yes, this set of 3 smoke trees (Cotinus coggygria) includes three plants with complementary foliage: one with deep purple leaves, one with light green leaves with yellow highlights, and one with bright golden leaves. This variety allows you to create an immediate range of colors without buying several separate varieties. Each plant will develop its own airy, feathery inflorescences in summer, further accentuating the ornamental character of the whole. Planted as a trio, they enhance one another and offer a remarkable visual contrast from spring to autumn.

The smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is one of the shrubs most tolerant of the chemical nature of the soil. It adapts equally well to calcareous soils as to neutral or slightly acidic soils, making it suitable for use in almost all regions of France without specific corrective amendments. The main thing is that the soil is well-drained, as Cotinus coggygria is susceptible to root asphyxia in heavy, wet soil during winter. In very clayey soil, incorporate gravel or coarse sand at the bottom of the planting hole to improve drainage.

The smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is a medium-growth shrub, gaining about 30 to 50 cm per year in good conditions with plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. It can reach a height of 3 to 5 m and a similar spread at maturity, in 8 to 12 years, depending on the vigor of the cultivar and site conditions. Plants delivered in pots, 12 to 35 cm tall, establish quickly in their first season, then reach their full growth rate from the second year onwards. Rejuvenation pruning in late winter can stimulate vigorous growth and more intense colors on the new shoots.

Yes, the smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) can be grown in a pot on a sunny terrace or balcony, provided you choose a container of at least 40 to 50 litres for an adult plant, with effective drainage holes. Use a well-draining potting mix composed of universal potting soil and fine gravel in a 2/3 to 1/3 ratio. In a pot, the smoke tree requires more regular watering than when planted in the ground, especially during summer heatwaves.

The ideal time to prune the smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is late winter, between mid-February and early March, before the buds break. It is enough to remove dead or frost-damaged branches and clear the center of the shrub to open up its shape. To encourage shoots with very intense colors, especially on purple cultivars, a severe pruning back to 40–60 cm above the ground every 3 to 5 years gives excellent results. Caution: pruning too frequently removes the older branches that bear the characteristic feathery inflorescences in summer.

The smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is fully hardy and easily withstands temperatures down to -15°C, or even -20°C for well-established plants in the ground. It is therefore perfectly suited to all regions of France, including continental and semi-mountainous areas. Newly planted young plants are slightly more sensitive to hard frosts during their first year: a 10 cm layer of mulch at the base is sufficient to protect them. When in a pot, winter protection for the container is recommended, as the roots are more exposed to the cold than in the soil.

The smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) lends itself to many combinations in the garden thanks to the diversity of its foliage and its airy summer blooms. Purple-leaved cultivars pair beautifully with golden grasses such as Stipa gigantea or Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', creating a warm, highly graphic contrast. The golden foliage of some plants in the lot pairs perfectly with the blue of perovskias or agapanthus in a summer border.