Cotinus, European Smoke Tree, Smoketree 'Golden Spirit'

Very surprised to hear of slow growth rates.Planted my 1 gal golden sprit 2 years ago in shade where it did not do well. Last year moved ...Read Moreit to a sunny location and it exploded. Now about 6 foot tall in my Vancouver, WA garden.

I bought this plant at the Ann Arbor farmers market perhaps 8 years ago. It has never bloomed and it isn't golden or yellow anymore, alth...Read Moreough it was when I bought it. It is still less than 4 feet tall. I wouldn't care about the size if it were more golden. I have it planted in part shade so that may be the problem. I'm planning on moving it this fall or in the spring. Fall foliage is nice but not spectacular on my plant. Overall, it has not met my expectations but I haven't given up. I live in Southfield, Michigan where this shrub should do well, but results for me have been disappointing so far.

In northern Alabama, ours stays a lovely chartreuse all spring & summer. A nice contrast among the deeper greens. Pretty, round foliage...Read More. We keep it contained in a rock garden, pruning it back to about two feet. It will need more water in the heat, but I think it would do well in Mobile, with your jet stream. Striking, unusual vein pattern in fall leaves. A real specimen in the garden.

Don't expect a lot of "smoke" from this slow growing Cotinus. But, do grow it for the great color. A great plant here in zone 7B. An u...Read Morepdate. Finally in 2022, after 11 years, our three 'Golden Spirits' have started to smoke. We are excited.

Planted this two years ago. Purchased in a tree form as a standard. It is slow to wake up in the spring, even after my 'Grace' cultivar....Read More Returned from vacation end of May in 2010 with some outgrowth. Mid June had lots of nice growth on it. Beautiful coloring in full sun, nice chartreuse and stunning when planted with hot pinks or purples. Had to prune back some dead branches to live growth.

This past winter, the second winter in my yard, it died back to the snow line, unfortunately. So, I had a tree standard form, no outgrowth on the top and all dead branching. All new growth came back from the bottom in a "shrub" form. Too bad. Liked the tree form better, but will still grow it in a shrub form. Growth rate is pretty fast, but slow to wake up in spring as mentioned earlier.

Still, I love the coloring on this one. Wouldn't want to be without it.

Update in 2013:
This lovely was relocated to a dappled sun condition in my yard after the standard form died back to the ground two winters ago. I moved it to a protected area (garage on one side, fence on the other) and the new growth on the bottom last year survived this past winter. No dieback.

The new bottom growth last year was not the nice bright green as at that time it was shaded by a fence, but this year it has grown to the 4 1/2 foot fence height and the area that reaches the sun is the nice bright green you purchase this plant for. Lots of smokey plumes this year too. I provided supplemental watering during the growing season last year as well, which probably helped her to establish better.

She is planted next to my purple leaf sandcherries and behind a shorter fern leaf red japanese maple, and the contrast is stunning.

Zone 5, rich black compact somewhat clayish soil. Don't give up on this beauty if she dies back to the ground. Well worth the effort, so my rating goes from neutral to positive.

Can anyone tell me if this shrub will grow in Mobile, AL?

I have these growing in part shade, occasional water. They grow surprisingly slowly--only about 3 feet tall after 2 years. Still, they ha...Read Moreve been free of trouble. The color in the shade has faded to more of a lime green than yellow, but still provides nice contrast to the amber leafed nine bark in front of it. Hasn't bloomed yet. Leaves out late and loses its leaves very late in the fall, with nice fall color.

I planted "Golden Spirit" Cotinus (1Gal.) three years ago on a gentle slope in full sun. It is growing extremely slow still about as tal...Read Morel (18 inches) but a little fuller. I give it ample water but wonder why it's so slow in growing, I understood it would grow to 10 feet tall! Because of that fact, I have placed it in the back- Three years is a long time to wait to see it!

This is a great plant to brighten up even a shaded garden. Even though all the literature says "full sun" mine is in partial shade and i...Read Mores doing very well. It keeps its golden color and makes quite a statement in the afternoon shade! I've had it three years and it seems to be growing only about 6 inches a year, but that's probably due to the shade. I absolutely love it and would highly recommend it.

This outstanding three season specimen should become a featured focal point. Use in shrub borders for late season interest. Provide uniqu...Read Moree effects against evergreens and perennials in mixed beds. A fine foundation plant to highlight important points in the architecture, entries and windows. Excellent choice for adding background interest to fountains and water gardens. Worth considering for accenting stark landscapes or adding depth to any home garden.



For startling foliage effects, pair Golden Spirit with its stellar sister, Royal Purple Smoke Tree, (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'). Play it off a background of dark green broadleaf evergreens such as Otto Luyken English Laurel, (Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'), Dwarf English Boxwood, (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa') and Crimson Pygmy Dwarf Japanese Barberry, (Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'). Combine it with Centennial Dwarf Crape Myrtle, (Lagerstroemia indica 'Centennial'), Petite Indigo Dwarf® Butterfly Bush, (Hibiscus syriacus 'Minerva'), Prairie Blue Eyes Hemerocallis, (Hemerocallis x 'Prairie Blue Eyes'), and Monch Firkart's Aster, (Aster frikartii 'Monch')