skip to main content

Southern Gardening

Royal Purple Smoke tree, when does it flower?

19 years ago

I have had a Royal purple smoke tree for three years now, it is in full sun, it grows well and the leaves are beautiful, but it has never bloomed. I have pruned it in the spring each year because every year it grows about 4' and I am trying to keep it more of a shrub than a tree. Have I been cutting off the blooms? Or does it need to reach a certain age before blooming?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

karen__w z7 NC
19 years ago
Cotinus blooms on year old wood so you probably are cutting off the buds. A lot of people will sacrifice bloom in order to stimulate foliage growth. I let mine bloom the past year or two just to see what it was like but will be cutting it back hard this year.
kgmax
12 years ago
This spring 2011 - April, I planted a Golden Spirit Smoke bush / tree. It is 3 feet tall and did NOT bloom. I did not prune it at all. Three questions: 1) Does it have to reach a certain age before it starts to bloom 2) Can I prune off the bottom branches to make it appear like more of a tree than a bush. Such as I have done with Sumac, making it appear like a palm tree of sorts. 3) Is it ok to plant spring bulbs around it. Thanks.
Related Discussions
pruning smoke bush into smoke tree
Q
Comments (35)
THANK YOU Brandon for an answer to the pruning question!!!! Will be sure to keep the cuts above ground level!! And to clarify what you and Ken are saying about a view to the utility boxes- ...actually, forget it... I just typed out a huge long explanation that I just deleted...lol ...in short (or @ least shortER) with the height of our deck and where our seating is located, the size of the smokebush, and my intentions (clearly understood at least in my own head- haha) don't worry guys, I'll be fine. I always envisioned a multi-stemmed tree, which would still hide the view of the utility boxes. ...don't think I will end up trying to do tree-form after all but do plan on pruning off many shoots and thin the boy down! as always, i appreciate the input from you all :)
...See More
another royal purple smoke bush pruning question
Q
Comments (2)
well I was wondering if the tree was struggling to bring nutrients to the top and hence the lack of leaves. I noticed that it's produced new branches near teh bottom of it's trunk. For this reason I thought maybe cutting it down may help to distribute it's nutrients better. Maybe I can get it to produce new branches and will try to get it growing in a more compact way. I will take your advise and wait it out a month or so..
...See More
Purple-flowering tree, not jacaranda
Q
Comments (13)
Hello again. I finally got a couple of photo of this tree. The blooms don't look purple in these pix, but trust me, they are. I don't know what word would describe this shade, but it has more red or pink than the photos I've seen posted in this thread. Click below to see the photo. Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
companions for purple smoke tree
Q
Comments (4)
Hi I live in Wisconsin and if you want to keep that awesome purple foliage on your smoke bush prune it back hard each year after it is dormant. I like to cut mine back in March here in our zone 4 state. Also choose the right cultivar. 'Royal Purple' seems like the best one to me. I am more of a foliage gardener so i don't care about the blooms. ' Little Princess' spirea and golden barberry or some of the bright yellow green Hosta 'Guacamole' work great. Good luck! Lisa
...See More
opalgirl28
8 years ago
I have had a gorgeous specimen of a smoke bush for over 12 years and have NEVER seem blooms. I have only trimmed it 8 years ago. Why am I not getting pretty pink flowers? It is in full sun.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Color Feast: When to Use Purple in the Dining Room

By Jennifer Ott Design

Decadent and different, purples from lavender to plum can make a dining area a treat for the eyes

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Old Fashioned Smoke Bush

Balance garden color with this shrub's cool blue-green foliage, luminous when backlit and sporting yellow-green flowers in spring

INSIDE HOUZZ How Much Does a Remodel Cost, and How Long Does It Take?

By Erin Carlyle

The 2016 Houzz & Home survey asked 120,000 Houzzers about their renovation projects. Here’s what they said

GARDENING GUIDES Glorious Purple Blooms Bring a Crowning Touch to Gardens

Royally beautiful but mingling well with the masses, plants with purple flowers or foliage are worthy of homage in any garden

GARDENING GUIDES When and How to Plant a Tree, and Why You Should

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Trees add beauty while benefiting the environment. Learn the right way to plant one

PURPLE FOLIAGE 5 Purple-Leaf Majesties of Shrubs

Looking for beautiful depth and dynamism in your landscape? Just add purple

TREES 7 Deer-Resistant Flowering Trees to Plant this Fall

If you live in a neighborhood with roaming deer, consider these beautiful trees that won't tempt hungry guests

COLOR What Goes With Purple Walls?

By Laura Gaskill

Make a plum wall come alive with art, warm metals, ivory, chartreuse, natural wood — and at least one wild card

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Lilac Vine for a Purple Profusion in Winter

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Grow this pretty, hardy vine on a fence or as a ground cover for blooms throughout the colder months

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Arbor Day Applause: Iconic Los Angeles Trees

By FormLA Landscaping

Step aside, palm trees. California's native trees offer landscapes a huge variety of styles, personas and foliage

Sponsored

12 Reviews

Pittsburgh's Custom Kitchen & Bath Designs for Everyday Living