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Royal Purple Smoke Bush

$7995 $9995
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Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

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Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Royal Purple Smoke Bush

Planting Instructions for Royal Purple Smoke Bush

  1. Choosing the Right Location: Plant Royal Purple Smoke Bush in an open, sunny spot in USDA zones 5 through 9. It grows in full to partial sun, but full sun gives the richest purple foliage and strongest flowering. In zone 5, a site sheltered from harsh winter wind helps protect the branches.
  2. Soil Preparation: This shrub adapts to many soil types, including average and even poor soils, as long as the area drains well. Avoid heavy, waterlogged ground and low spots where water collects after rain, since soggy soil can damage the roots.
  3. Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, and set the shrub so the top of the root ball is level with the ground. It grows about 10 to 15 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide, so give it plenty of room. For seasonal screening, space plants about 10 to 12 feet apart.
  4. Mulching and First Watering: Water deeply after planting and spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the base, keeping it away from the stems.

Care Instructions

  1. Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season while the roots settle in. Once established, Royal Purple Smoke Bush is drought tolerant and usually needs extra water only during long droughts.
  2. Fertilizing: Little fertilizer is needed. Too much can reduce flowering and dull the purple leaf color. If growth is poor, apply a light balanced fertilizer in early spring.
  3. Pest and Disease Monitoring: Smoke bush has few pest problems. Watch for powdery mildew and verticillium wilt, which causes sudden dieback of branches. Prune out affected wood and keep the soil well drained.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

  1. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Leave it loose and airy, thin it to shape a small tree, or cut it back harder to keep it compact. Hard pruning produces bigger, bolder leaves but fewer smoky plumes that year.
  2. Winter Care: It handles cold winters well. If stems suffer winter damage in zone 5, cut them back in spring and the shrub will regrow from the base.

Additional Tips for Growing Royal Purple Smoke Bush

  1. Smoky Summer Plumes: Airy purple flower clusters appear in early summer and can last for weeks, giving the plant its cloud-like, smoky look.
  2. Fall Color: Deep purplish-red leaves hold their color through summer, then turn brilliant scarlet red as temperatures cool. Full sun gives the most vivid display, and the red leaves look striking against evergreens before they drop for winter.
  3. Design and Privacy: Use it as a specimen in the lawn or at the back of a mixed border. Because it is deciduous, it provides privacy mainly from spring through fall. Its dark leaves look striking beside golden foliage and ornamental grasses.
What Customers say about the Royal Purple Smoke Bush:

The Royal Purple Smoke Bush thrives in Zones 5-9

Growing Zones for the Royal Purple Smoke Bush

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Royal Purple Smoke Bush.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 5-9
Mature Height 10-15 ft.
Mature Width 12-15 ft.
Cannot Ship To AK, HI
Sunlight Full to Partial Sun
Botanical Name Botanical Name: Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Royal Purple Smoke Bush

Beware- not all Royal Purple Smoke Bushes are the same.

Be sure to get superior flowering shrubs, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" flowering shrubs to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Royal Purple Smoke Bushes in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that will explode with growth and blooms!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall flowering shrubs in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" shrub, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy shrub.

Royal Purple Smoke Bush

The Royal Purple Smoke Bush brings rich color and dramatic texture- deep purple leaves topped with soft, smoky blooms.

  • Deep purplish-red leaves from spring through summer
  • Smoke-like purple flower clusters in early summer
  • Bright scarlet fall color as the weather cools
  • Large, bold accent (10-15 ft. tall, 12-15 ft. wide), drought tolerant once established in zones 5-9

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure plants including the pot and roots, so the plant you receive is much smaller than you expected. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!

You Want Royal Purple Smoke Bushes Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship small, weak flowering shrubs grown in tiny pots to save money. These "root bound" plants struggle after planting and take longer to bloom well.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Royal Purple Smoke Bushes, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed root systems. That means they settle in quickly and start showing off their bold purple color sooner.

Read more about the Royal Purple Smoke Bush

Royal Purple Smoke Bush: Bold Purple Foliage and Smoky Summer Blooms

Add rich color and dramatic texture to your landscape with the Royal Purple Smoke Bush. This eye-catching shrub grows deep purplish-red leaves in spring and keeps its bold color through summer.

In early summer, soft, airy purple flower clusters appear above the foliage and create the smoky look that gives this plant its name. In fall, the leaves can turn bright scarlet red for another season of color.

Why You'll Love the Royal Purple Smoke Bush

Deep Purple Foliage: Rich purplish-red leaves bring bold color to the landscape from spring through summer.

Unique Smoke-Like Blooms: Airy purple flower clusters create a soft, cloud-like effect in early summer.

Bright Fall Color: The foliage can turn brilliant scarlet red as cooler weather arrives.

Great as a Focal Point: Its strong color and open shape make it easy to use as a standout plant in garden beds.

Large, Versatile Size: Royal Purple Smoke Bush can grow into a large shrub or small ornamental tree.

Drought Tolerant Once Established: After the roots are settled in, this tough shrub can handle short dry periods with less watering.

Rich Purple Color From Spring Through Summer

The biggest feature of Royal Purple Smoke Bush is its dark foliage. New leaves emerge in shades of purplish red and stay rich and colorful through the warmer months.

The dark leaves look especially good next to green shrubs, golden foliage, ornamental grasses, and bright flowers.

Smoke-Like Flowers Add Summer Texture

In early summer, Royal Purple Smoke Bush produces light, airy flower clusters that rise above the leaves. From a distance, these blooms can look like soft clouds of purple smoke.

This unusual texture gives the shrub a very different look from most common flowering plants and makes it a strong focal point in the landscape.

Brilliant Scarlet Fall Color

As temperatures cool, the foliage can change from deep purple to bright scarlet red. This gives Royal Purple Smoke Bush another strong color display before winter.

The mix of purple summer foliage and red fall color makes this shrub useful for adding interest through several seasons.

Where to Plant Royal Purple Smoke Bush

Specimen Plantings: Plant one by itself as a bold focal point where its purple foliage can stand out.

Mixed Borders: Pair it with green shrubs, flowering perennials, and ornamental grasses for strong contrast.

Privacy Screens: Use its larger size to add height and seasonal screening to the landscape.

Accent Plantings: Add it to foundation beds or large garden areas for bold color and texture.

Small Ornamental Tree: With pruning and training, Royal Purple Smoke Bush can also be grown in a tree-like form.

Royal Purple Smoke Bush Sun and Soil Needs

Sunlight: Plant Royal Purple Smoke Bush in full sun for the best foliage color and strongest flowering.

Soil: This adaptable shrub grows well in many soil types as long as the area drains well.

Watering: Water regularly while the plant becomes established. Once the roots are settled in, it becomes more drought tolerant.

A Large Shrub With an Open, Airy Shape

Royal Purple Smoke Bush has a naturally open branching habit that gives it a soft, airy look. At maturity, it can grow up to about 15 feet tall, depending on growing conditions and pruning.

This size makes it useful as a large accent shrub, screen, or small ornamental tree in larger landscapes.

Easy Care for Long-Lasting Landscape Color

Once established, Royal Purple Smoke Bush is a dependable plant that does not need constant attention. It adapts to many well-drained soils and can handle dry periods better than many more delicate shrubs.

Its natural shape can be left loose and airy, or it can be pruned to control size and create a more compact form.

Multi-Season Color With Dramatic Style

If you want a shrub with deep purple foliage, unique smoky blooms, bright fall color, and easy-care growth, Royal Purple Smoke Bush is an excellent choice.

Plant Royal Purple Smoke Bush for bold color, unusual summer texture, and a dramatic landscape display from spring through fall.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Royal Purple Smoke Bush

How big does a Royal Purple Smoke Bush get?

Royal Purple Smoke Bush grows about 10 to 15 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide at maturity. Its open, airy branching makes it a large accent shrub, informal screen, or small ornamental tree. You can prune it to keep it more compact if your space is limited.

Does Royal Purple Smoke Bush need full sun?

Royal Purple Smoke Bush grows in full to partial sun, but full sun gives the richest purple foliage and the strongest flowering. In too much shade, the leaves can turn greener and the plant may bloom less. Choose an open, sunny spot for the most dramatic color.

What zones does Royal Purple Smoke Bush grow in?

Royal Purple Smoke Bush grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. It handles cold winters in the north and heat in the south. In zone 5, a spot sheltered from harsh winter wind helps protect the branches, and the shrub will regrow from the base if stems suffer winter damage.

When does Royal Purple Smoke Bush bloom?

Royal Purple Smoke Bush blooms in early summer. Soft, airy purple flower clusters rise above the foliage and create the cloud-like, smoky look that gives the plant its name. These wispy plumes can last for weeks and add unusual texture to beds and borders.

Does Royal Purple Smoke Bush change color in fall?

Yes, Royal Purple Smoke Bush can turn bright scarlet red in fall. Its deep purplish-red leaves hold their color through spring and summer, then shift to brilliant red as temperatures cool. This gives the shrub several seasons of strong color in the landscape.

How do you prune Royal Purple Smoke Bush?

Prune Royal Purple Smoke Bush in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. You can leave it loose and airy, thin it to shape a small tree, or cut it back harder to keep it compact. Hard pruning produces bigger, bolder leaves but fewer smoky flower plumes that year.

Is Royal Purple Smoke Bush drought tolerant?

Yes, Royal Purple Smoke Bush becomes drought tolerant once established. Water regularly during its first growing season while the roots settle in. After that, it handles dry periods better than many more delicate shrubs and usually needs extra water only during long droughts.

What soil does Royal Purple Smoke Bush need?

Royal Purple Smoke Bush adapts to many soil types as long as the area drains well. It tolerates average and even poor soils, but it dislikes heavy, waterlogged ground. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain, since soggy soil can damage the roots.

Can Royal Purple Smoke Bush be used for privacy?

Yes, Royal Purple Smoke Bush can add height and seasonal screening thanks to its large size. Because it is deciduous, it provides privacy mainly from spring through fall. Space plants about 10 to 12 feet apart so their wide, airy canopies can grow together.

Where should I plant a Royal Purple Smoke Bush?

Plant Royal Purple Smoke Bush where it can be a bold focal point, such as a specimen in the lawn, at the back of a mixed border, or in a large garden bed. Its dark leaves look striking beside green shrubs, golden foliage, and ornamental grasses.
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