Velvet Cloak Smokebush

Name

• Though smokebush is a deciduous shrub, it may look bushlike when it is smaller. It is compared to smoke because of the fine downy spent flowers that cover it in midsummer. Like the dandelion, the blooms themselves are less impressive than the aftereffects, as spring smokebush flowers turn to fluffy tufts in summer. The "Velvet Cloak" cultivar is so named because its down is a purplish-pink rather than the standard beige.

Appearance

• Smokebush is a round, branching, deciduous shrub. It usually grows to 10 to 15 tall and 12 to 15 feet wide, though it can sometimes grow as tall as 20 feet. Its oval-shaped leaves range from sage-green to purple on the same plant. In fall, the leaves turn reddish-orange, making it a good choice for seasonal color.

Culture

• "Velvet Cloak" smokebush grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. It prefers moist soil, though it is quite drought-tolerant once established. It will tolerate acidic or alkaline soil composed of clay, sand or loam, but does need good drainage. Smokebush grows best in full, all-day sun. Prune it to keep it small and compact, or let it develop on its own for a less formal look.

Garden Uses

• Smokebush adapts well to conditions where soil space is limited, and is a good choice for planting near driveways, sidewalks or foundations where its roots will not have a lot of room to stretch. It does well as a single specimen or planted in groups of its own kind or with other plants. It also makes a good border, hedge or screen. Year-round color provides visual interest.