There are many popular varieties of smoke bush. You'll see four main types of smoke bush on the market. "Golden Spirit," one of the most common, actually isn't purple (the plant's mainstay shade).

I have a large (20-foot) specimen of purple leaf Cotinus ‘Grace’ (hybrid of ‘Velvet Cloak x Cotinus obovatus) in my home garden that produces huge panicles of pinkish-purple smoke annually ...

Smoke bush can tolerate partial sun, though it thrives in full sun. (Purple-leaved varieties have the best color when given full sun.) It likes medium-moist but well-drained soil.

PLANTS with dark-coloured foliage can add drama and contrast in the garden, none more so than the purple-leafed smoke bush, Cotinus coggygria ‘Grace’, which is at its peak at this time of year.

Now there’s a colorful new dwarf smoke bush, Cotinus coggygria ‘Winecraft Black’, which grows to a maximum of 6 feet. Its leaves emerge rich purple, turning almost black in summer before ...