Purple-leaved ornamental shrub with rounded burgundy leaves in sunlight.

Ornamental shrub with dark burgundy, round leaves in a black nursery pot on a gravel surface at a plant nursery, outdoors.

Purple-leaved ornamental shrub with round oval leaves in bright sunlight on a sunny day.

Purple-leaved shrub with dense, maroon leaves in a garden-center display under a sunny sky.

Royal Purple Smokebush

Deep Purple Foliage
Smoky Summer Plumes
Bold Specimen Color

Our Guarantee Customer Reviews

#7 Container

$132.00

6 in stock

#3 Container

$57.00

10 in stock

Size

Clear

Add installation for only _ per item!

Starting at $57.00

The Grasshopper Guarantee

We guarantee that your plants and trees will arrive happy and healthy. If you’re not satisfied after receiving your trees and plants, we’ll replace them at no cost to you. Trees and plants are living organisms and require care, maintenance, and protection to survive, root in, and establish properly. Trees that do not survive despite receiving the proper care, maintenance, and protection within the first year will be considered for a one-time replacement. If you purchased plants outside of your growing zone recommendation, or have not properly cared for your new plants as described in your welcome letter, your purchase won’t be covered by our Grasshopper guarantee.
FREE Local Delivery

Grasshopper Gardens offers free home delivery to customers in our local service areas. Experience the convenience of having your plants delivered straight to your home, free of charge, saving you time and effort.

Our local delivery area reaches as far north as Schroon Lake, south to Voorheesville, Glenmont, and East Greenbush areas, parts of Fulton and Montgomery counties, much of Washington County, and all areas in between. If you have questions on local delivery, give us a call at

518-793-9623.
In Stock
518-793-9623

Royal Purple Smokebush

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Royal Purple Smokebush

Royal Purple Smokebush is a dramatic deciduous shrub or small tree prized for deep purple foliage, airy summer smoke-like plumes, and bold landscape presence. Its rich color and sculptural branching make it a standout specimen for sunny borders, screens, mixed beds, and focal-point plantings.

Why choose Royal Purple Smokebush?

Choose Royal Purple Smokebush for high-impact foliage color and multi-season texture. Its rounded leaves emerge rich purple and create strong contrast beside green, gold, and silver plants. In summer, fine, feathery flower panicles form the signature smoky effect that gives smokebush its name. This plant can be grown as a large shrub, informal hedge, screen, or small ornamental tree, offering flexible design value where a bold, colorful anchor is needed.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’
Common Name: Royal Purple Smokebush
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree
Growth Habit: Upright, rounded, spreading, multi-stemmed habit

Royal Purple Smokebush Additional Information

Royal Purple Smokebush is best known for its deep purple foliage, which provides strong color from spring through the growing season and may develop reddish-purple fall tones before leaf drop. In summer, small flowers are followed by airy, hair-like plumes that create a soft, smoky haze around the branch tips. These plumes add movement and texture, especially when the plant is used as a specimen or planted where it can be viewed against a lighter background.

This smokebush is deciduous, revealing its branching structure in winter. It works well in shrub borders, foundation corners, mixed screens, large containers, and bold accent plantings. Pruning can be used to maintain size or encourage vigorous new foliage growth, though hard pruning may reduce flowering for that season. For the best foliage color, give it a sunny location with well-drained soil.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Royal Purple Smokebush in full sun with well-drained soil. Choose a location with room for its mature height and spread, then set the root ball level with the surrounding soil and water thoroughly after planting.

2. Watering: Water consistently during the first growing season to help roots establish. Once established, it handles average garden moisture well and benefits from supplemental watering during extended dry periods.

3. Mulching: Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture and reduce weed competition. Keep mulch pulled slightly away from the trunk or main stems.

4. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to shape the plant or control size. Light pruning preserves more flowering wood, while heavier renewal pruning encourages strong new foliage growth but may limit plumes that year.

Related Resources

FAQs

How big does Royal Purple Smokebush get?
Royal Purple Smokebush often grows as a large shrub or small tree, commonly reaching about 10–15 feet tall and wide in favorable conditions. Size can be managed with thoughtful pruning.
Does Royal Purple Smokebush need full sun?
Yes, full sun is best for the richest purple foliage and strongest overall form. It can tolerate light shade, but the leaf color is usually most vivid in brighter locations.
When does Royal Purple Smokebush bloom?
Royal Purple Smokebush typically produces its airy smoke-like plumes in summer. The effect comes from fine hairs on spent flower clusters, creating a soft, misty look around the branches.

Shipping Details

1. Planting: This is a large landscape tree and as such, requires a bit of planning before planting. First, measure the area where you would like to plant your hedge or row. You will need the length of the area of planting to estimate the number of trees you need.

When planting, dig a hole for each tree that is three times as wide as the root ball but just as deep. Place the tree, fill in around the tree with the same soil you took out when initially digging the hole. Finally, tamp down as you fill to cut back on any air pockets from forming, water the tree, then mulch to conserve moisture.

2. Watering: For the first two weeks, water your new tree every other day by holding a hose around it and counting to 20. If you don’t have a hose, 2 large watering cans full of water will do (smaller trees may only need a light soaking so a single can may suffice).

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Lush Foliage
Full Sun
Seasonal

Mature Height	Small: Up to 15 ft
Mature Spread	5-10 ft
Growth Rate	Moderate
Botanical Name	Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
Bloom Time	Mid Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually
Family	Anacardiaceae
Flower Color	Blue/Purple
Hardiness Zones	5, 6, 7, 8
Light Needs	Full Sun
Maintenance	Low
Size	#3 Container, #7 Container

United States map with most states shaded dark green and a few states left white. (Informative map)

Growing Zones 5-8 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -20)

Compare Similar Products

Name	Shasta Doublefile Viburnum	Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea	Easy Elegance Kashmir Rose	Easy Elegance High Voltage Rose	Easy Elegance Head over Heels Rose	Summer Wine Ninebark
Rating
Mature Height	Large: Up to 6 ft	Large: Up to 6 ft	Medium: Up to 4 ft	Small: Up to 15 ft	Small: Up to 15 ft	Small: Up to 15 ft
Mature Spread	5-10 ft	0-5 ft	0-5 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft	5-10 ft
Growth Rate	Fast, Moderate	Fast, Moderate	Fast	Fast	Fast	Fast, Moderate
Bloom Time	Late Spring, Early Summer	Mid Summer	Early Summer	Mid Summer	Mid Summer	Early Summer
Deer Resistant	Usually	Usually	No	Usually	No	Usually
Family	Adoxaceae	Hydrangeaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae	Rosaceae
Flower Color	White	Pink	Red	Yellow/Orange	Pink	Pink
Hardiness Zones	5, 6, 7, 8	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun	Full Sun
Maintenance	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low