Monday 26 October 2015

Cotinus coggygria (Smoke Tree)

LOCATION: Fletcher Moss Park

Cotinus coggygria is classified as a shrub or a small tree and has dark red-purple foliage that turns scarlet in autumn. The leaves are simple and obovate. It bears plume-like seed clusters that appear after the flowers which have pale yellow petals and grow in large clusters. The flowers then die quite quickly and turn into yellowish-pink to pinkish-purple feathery plumes, which gives the plant its name as it looks just like smoke. They grows best in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. The plant was brought to UK as an ornamental species, being native to southern Europe, central Asia, Himalayas and northern China.

I found this species in the Fletcher Moss Park with only few leaves left on the top of the plant as it was a very late autumn. I was able to capture the rich orange-purple colour of the leaves and the remaining of the feathery plumes. The plant has spread wide and developed a dense branch formation which is clearly visible now as it lost its leaves. The soil looked moderately moist.

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