Smoke tree, Venetian sumach
Cotinus coggygria

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A rounded shrub. It grows 3-4.5 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. They turn rich red before falling. The leaves are oval and green. They are about 7 cm long. They do not have teeth. They have long stalks. The flowers have smoky plumes with a pink tint which turns grey. These are in lax panicles 15-20 cm long. This is due to the fine thread like dull purple branches. The flowers and fruit are very small. The fruit are dry and flattened. They are kidney shaped and 3-4 mm long.

There are 3 Cotinus species. Volatile oils in the leaves contain pinene and camphene.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. They suit places with warm dry summers. In the Himalayas it grows between 760-1,520 m above sea level. In China (var. glaucophylla) grows between 1,300-2,400 m altitude in southern China. It can tolerate drought. It grows well in sunny places. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. At Anvers Chocolate factory. Arboretum Tasmania. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bulgaria, Canada, Central Asia, China, Europe, France, Georgia, Greece, Himalayas, India, Italy, Korea, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Nepal, North America, Pakistan, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten as a potherb. They are boiled or stir fried. The fruit are edible.

It is a famine food. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, shoots, fruit

How it is grown

They can be grown from softwood cuttings. They can also be grown from seed or suckers.

It is quick growing.

Its other names

Local names

Boyaci sumagi, Cloud tree, Common smoke tree, Darengri, Dashmil, Gadtung, Huanglu, Hungarian fustic, Manu, Navadni ruj, Paan, Smoke bush, Tung, Tunga, Wig tree, Yellow Lu

Synonyms

Rhus cotinus Linn.;