Cotinus coggygria Lilla

Cotinus coggygria Lilla is a compact, deciduous smoke bush prized for its rich purple foliage that develops vibrant orange-red tones in autumn. In early to midsummer it bears small yellow flowers that age into the characteristic airy “smoke” plumes, adding soft texture above the rounded canopy. Ideal for smaller gardens and mixed borders, it is best grown in full sun to maximise leaf colour, in moderately fertile, well-drained soil; it will tolerate chalk but avoids waterlogged sites. Expect an eventual height and spread of around 1–1.5m, with an overall average growth rate; little pruning is needed beyond light shaping in late winter if required. Fully hardy in Irish gardens.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Full sun

Rate of Growth: Average

Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained; tolerant of chalk

Hardiness: Fully hardy

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Plant at a Glance