Smoke bush
Cotinus
An ornamental plant, planted September to November.
In September: nothing to do. It can be planted now. It may cause mild skin irritation for some people.
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Smoke bush, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown smoke bush. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Cut the smoke bush hard back for new stems. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none |
| Feed the smoke bush. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Mulch the smoke bush. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Handle it with care
It may cause mild skin irritation for some people.
Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown smoke bush September to November, 3m apart. Moderate sources: Gardeners’ World and Roots Plants.
Cut the smoke bush hard back for new stems
Gardeners call this coppicing and stooling for stem display.
Cut all the growth back hard, to a stubby low framework or to ground level.
Usually February to April. Moderate source: RHS.
Feed the smoke bush
Give a generous helping of home-made compost, well-rotted manure or leaf mould.
Usually March to May. Moderate sources: Gardeners’ World and Gardening Express.
Mulch the smoke bush
Use organic matter such as garden compost, to support stem and flower growth.
Usually March to May. Moderate source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Smoke bush” comes from.