Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Smoketree

Description:

Beautiful red-violet leaves and billowy puffs of pink 'smoke' cover this compact shrub variety, for a truly unusual and breathtaking effect; burgundy foliage color deepens with sun exposure; brilliant orange and red fall color that lasts

Ornamental Features

Dusky Maiden Smokebush features airy panicles of yellow flowers with pink stalks at the ends of the branches from early to late summer. It has attractive dark red-variegated grayish green foliage with hints of violet which emerges burgundy in spring. The round leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding brick red in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Dusky Maiden Smokebush is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Dusky Maiden Smokebush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Dusky Maiden Smokebush will grow to be about 7 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.