Virginia Tech Dendrology

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. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information