Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Lady' is an exquisite deciduous shrub celebrated for its stunning golden-yellow leaves and ethereal, plume-like flower clusters that grace the summer landscape. This cultivar not only infuses vibrant color into mixed borders and shrub beds but also provides a striking architectural element to informal hedges. Its foliage remains a brilliant hue throughout the growing season, transitioning to captivating shades of orange, red, and purple in the autumn, making it a true standout in any garden.
Reaching a height and spread of approximately 3 meters (10 feet), 'Golden Lady' exhibits an upright, rounded, and bushy growth habit. In early to mid-summer, it showcases large, fluffy flower clusters that range from pink to purple, resembling delicate wisps of smoke. The bright golden-yellow leaves maintain their luster throughout the season, ensuring that this shrub remains a focal point of interest from spring through fall, enhanced further by its enchanting summer blooms.
Thriving in full sun, this hardy shrub prefers well-drained soil and demonstrates remarkable resilience, tolerating poor and dry conditions once established. It is an excellent choice for large containers with adequate drainage and works beautifully in shrub borders or as a specimen plant. Additionally, its flowers attract bees and other pollinators, making it a valuable addition to any wildlife-friendly garden. For optimal growth and shape, a light pruning in late winter or early spring is recommended, encouraging fresh new growth and maintaining its elegant form.
Grow the Smoke Bush in a moderately fertile, well drained soil in sun or partial shade, plants are generally unfussy and a low maintenance choice of shrub for the garden.
