American smoketree Anacardiaceae Cotinus obovatus Raf. symbol: COOB2 Leaf: Alternate, simple, oval, entire margin, blunt-tipped, 3 to 5 inches long; blue green above, paler below. Flower: Small, greenish yellow occurring on many finely branched, slender clusters which resemble puffs of smoke; changes color from yellowish to pink as the age; few actual flowers occur. Fruit: Light brown, 1/8 inch long, kidney-bean shaped; few appear on the slender branched, hairy stems. Twig: Moderately stout, reddish green, glaucous, turning gray-brown with age; buds small, leaf scar lobed. Bark: Initially light gray-brown, later splitting into thin strips and becoming scaly and darker. Form: A large shrub or small tree reaching 30 to 40 feet tall with an open, round crown. Looks like: European smoketree Additional Range Information: Cotinus obovatus is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting American smoketree. More: Fall Color External Links: USDA Plants Database Horticulture © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson