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Smokebush - Red Leaf Common
Red Leaf Common Smokebush, cotinus coggygria 'Red Leaf', is an upright and spreading form of Smokebush, which maintains it's red-purple color extremely well throughout summer, with panicles of smoky-purple to beige flowers blooming in mid-summer. This gives the effect of a cloud of smoke. It is a tough and tolerant shrub, requiring well-drained soil; and the Red Leaf Common Smokebush thrives in part to full sun. It tolerates considerable drought once it is established. With minimal pruning it will naturally form a large shrub or small tree over time. If pruned to 6 to 8 inches tall in winter, it will produce long stems with striking, oversized foliage. It makes a wonderful accent as a shrub border, can be planted as a specimen, or as a patio tree. May be pruned back hard in spring. Many people grow this shrub just for its vivid fall color. ... more
Dogwood - Greytwig The Gray Dogwood is a deciduous shrub which typically occurs in moist or rocky ground along streams, ponds, wet meadows, glade and prairie margins, thickets and rocky bluffs. It grows 10-15' tall and features white flowers borne in terminal racemes (hence the species name of racemosa) in late spring and grayish-green, elliptic to lance-shaped leaves (2-4" long). Foliage turns an interesting dusky purplish red in fall. Terminal stems holding the flowers are distinctively red and provide interesting contrast to the clusters of small white berries which form after the flowers have dropped. Red stem color is more easily seen after the fruits are gone, and red color often persists into early winter. Excellent when planted in groups and left alone to spread in naturalized areas or native plant gardens. Also effective in shrub borders, along streams or ponds or near buildings or when planted as a screen. Can be particularly useful because of its ability to grow in poor soils. Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of city air pollution. |
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