How to Grow and Care for Smoke Bush Plant

The smoke bush, also called smoketree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree often used as a garden specimen because of its beautiful purple-pink smokey plumes and the purple leaves found on some cultivars.

The plant does well in almost any soil type and most any pH level. The ideal circumstance is slightly sandy loam, but it grows well in rocky soils, full sun, climates with moderate temperatures, and average to dry humidity levels. The bush is mildly toxic to people.

Smoke Bush Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a smoke bush.

• Plant in full sun.
• Water deeply when young; the plants become drought-resistant as they mature.
• Space plants 10 to 15 feet apart and in sheltered locations from winter winds.
• Mulch two inches deep around young plants; keep mulch two inches from the plant's trunk.

Light

Smoke bush should be planted in full sun. If it's planted in part shade conditions, foliage will be sparse and will require regular pruning to keep the plants dense.

Soil

Smoke bush does well in nearly all soil conditions provided the soil is well-drained. It does not tolerate poorly draining or soggy soils.

Water

Young plants should be watered deeply and regularly twice a week, but once established, smoke bush has good resistance to drought and dry conditions. Mature plants thrive if watered moderately every 10 days during the active growing season.

Temperature and Humidity

Smoke bush does best in moderate temperatures and average to dry humidity levels. In moist, very warm climates, fungal diseases are often a problem. In colder climates, winter winds can damage the plants, so they should be planted in sheltered conditions in these regions.

Fertilizer

Smoke bush does not require much feeding. Fertilize it in spring or add a layer of compost. An annual application of organic plant food may be called for if the shrubs are not growing vigorously. The bush might need nitrogen to fuel the growth of its foliage.

Types of Smoke Bush

• 'Daydream': This is a good green-leaved cultivar with dense, creamy blooms. It is a somewhat smaller plant that grows to a maximum of 10 feet wide and tall.
• 'Nordine': This tree is a very hardy purple-leaved variety with yellow-orange fall foliage.
• 'Royal Purple': This common purple-leaved form has dark foliage and purple-red "smoke."
• 'Velvet Cloak': The tree is another dark purple-leaved form with a dramatic orange-red fall color.

Pruning

A smoke bush has minimal pruning needs. Late winter is the best time to prune severely to six to eight inches above ground to reshape and rejuvenate the shrub. However, you will sacrifice flowers for the following year.

If you wish to encourage a tree-like growth habit, prune away all but one central leader stem, and keep pruning away any stems that reappear. A bushier shrub can be obtained by cutting all stems down to six inches above ground level in late winter for the first two or three years.

Pruning in late summer and fall is discouraged, because any new growth that emerges post-pruning will die off in winter.

Propagating Smoke Bush

Propagating the smoke bush by stem cuttings is preferred over planting seeds. Seeds will have very spotty results and may not offer showy flowering panicles. Stem cuttings are preferred because the results will duplicate the unique ornamental character displayed by its parent plant.

To propagate smoke bush by stem cuttings, follow these steps:

1. In the summer, choose a leafy stem the length of your hand. Select new softwood cuttings.
2. Strip the stem of its lower leaves.
3. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone.
4. Embed the stem in a well-draining growing medium.
5. Cover the pot loosely with a plastic bag to keep the stem and potting mix moist.
6. Transfer to a larger pot or the ground when the stem develops roots.
   

Potting and Repotting Smoke Bush

Smoke bush has a nicely contained fibrous root system and is easy to transplant into a pot with these steps.

1. Root-prune the shrub several months before you plan to move it into a container. Do so by digging a 12-inch to 24-inch circle that is 14 inches deep, around the plant's base.
2. At transplant time, dig down around the tree 12 to 14 inches and lift the root ball out of the ground.
3. Move the shrub to its new location. Avoid plastic and choose a pot that's tall and sturdy to accommodate the tree's growth and height. The pot should have at least one large drainage hole. Fill the pot with good, fertilized potting soil mixed with some sand and compost.
4. Place your potted smoke bush in a sunny area, and water fully to settle the roots.

When the plant outgrows its container, transplant it into a new pot one size larger and filled with fresh potting soil. Water well to settle it into its new home.

Overwintering

Be careful not to overwater your smoke bush this time of year. Do not fertilize the bushes during the winter. Use around two to three inches of mulch around the bases of your outdoor plants to protect the roots.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

The oblique-banded leafroller, a native North American pest that feeds on a wide range of plants, can be a problem for the smoke bush.

If soils are not well-drained, smoke bush is very susceptible to verticillium wilt. It can also get scabs and leaf spot, a fungal condition prevalent in warmer weather. If you live in the eastern United States, watch out for stem canker.

How to Get Smoke Bush to Bloom

Bloom Months

The bush blooms with a showy purple, smoke-like visual effect in the early summer and may continue flowering through the summer.

What Do Smoke Bush Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Wispy pink panicles each 6 to 8 inches long hide inconspicuous yellow flowers. The pink hairs are on the flower stalks which causes the effect of "smoke."

The name "smoke bush" derives from billowy hairs attached to the flower clusters, which remain in place through the summer, turning a smoky pink to purplish pink as the weeks progress. The plumes have a very faint sweet scent.

How to Encourage More Blooms

If you refresh the bush by cutting it to the ground during the winter, you will sacrifice new flowers since buds develop on older wood. To encourage more blooms, keep the shrub in a dry spot and full sun, making sure nothing is blocking the light.

Caring for Smoke Bush After It Blooms

There is no necessary care for the bush after it blooms. You will need to clean up the fallen plumes from the ground which could become slightly messy.

Common Problems With Smoke Bush

The smoke bush doesn't require much care. But be sure to give it some attention to keep it looking good. There's only one issue you may encounter with the smoke bush.

Browning/Yellowing Leaves

The biggest problem you will find with this bush is browning leaves or yellowing leaves around the edges. Both problems are often caused by the fungus Verticillium.

If the leaves are browning but are not falling off, the tree could be too dry even though it has a high tolerance to drought. Give the tree a soaking to see if that helps.