Cotinus coggygria Lemon Lady - Smoke Bush

Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Lady' is a brand new variety of bush, with changing foliage, a very round and compact habit, and erect and vigorous stems. This deciduous bush is ornamental from spring to autumn, transitioning from yellow-orange to golden yellow in summer, then igniting again, draped in its most beautiful orange vegetation at the end of the season. Robust and easy to grow and essential for adding colour to the garden, it adapts to all types of soil, even dry and heavy or chalky, as well as container cultivation.

The Cotinus coggygria, also known as smoke bush, is from the family Anacardiaceae, native to southern Europe and Asia. In nature, it grows on rocky slopes, on poor soils and in dry climates. The 'Golden Lady' variety, obtained in 2016 by Minier Nurseries, stands out for its compact and round habit and its foliage, which is golden in summer. It reaches an average height of 2m (6 ft 7 in) in all directions at maturity. In June, Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Lady' forms panicles of small yellow-green flowers, whose pedicels elongate to form a long panicle of fruit covered in hairs: the inflorescence then takes on a pale pinkish, smoky, feathery appearance, which earned this species its name of smoke bush. Its deciduous, oval leaves, measuring 6-8cm (2.4-3.1 in) in length, appear from April, in a yellow-orange colour, and change colour throughout the season. In autumn, the panicles and foliage take on sumptuous colours, ranging from golden yellow to orange, and even some salmon pink tones.  

Easy to grow, Cotinus 'Golden Lady' appreciates well-drained, poor, light, and chalky soils. Once established, it withstands drought but doesn't tolerate excessive humidity in winter well, especially in heavy soils. Like deciduous euonymus, it is very useful for brightening up informal hedges or evergreen shrub borders such as boxwoods or cherry laurels. Its association with the purple or bronze foliage of physocarpus is superb. Also cultivate this cotinus in a large pot on a terrace, or in a large rockery, in the company of catmints, lamb's ears, lavenders, rosemarys and Russian sages.