Description
Cotinus coggygria ‘The Velvet Fog’, commonly known as the Velvet Fog Smoke Bush, is a striking deciduous shrub prized for its fine-textured, smoky, lavender-pink flower plumes that appear in summer, creating an airy, cloud-like effect that adds unique visual interest to gardens. This cultivar is distinguished by its velvety, deep purple foliage that emerges in spring, intensifies in summer, and often takes on warm bronze and red hues in fall, providing multi-seasonal color appeal. Native to southern Europe and central Asia, the species has a rich horticultural history dating back to its use as an ornamental plant in European gardens for centuries. ‘The Velvet Fog’ is appreciated for its compact form, vigorous growth, and adaptability to a range of soil conditions, thriving best in full sun to promote vibrant leaf coloration and prolific flowering. Its drought tolerance and low maintenance requirements make it an excellent choice for landscape design focused on ornamental texture and color contrast. Proven Winners, a leader in introducing superior plant varieties, has helped popularize this cultivar for its outstanding garden performance and aesthetic qualities.