cotinus ‘grace vs royal purple

Cotinus ‘Grace’ vs ‘Royal Purple’ Smoke Trees: Which is Better for Your Garden?

Smoke trees are showstopping ornamental shrubs known for their colorful foliage and airy smoky summer blooms. Two of the most popular smoke tree cultivars are Cotinus ‘Grace’ and Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’. But with both offering rich purple leaves and pinkish plumes how do you choose between these two garden standouts?

In this guide, we’ll compare cotinus ‘Grace’ and cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ smoke trees to help you select the best one for your landscape.

Cotinus ‘Grace’ Smoke Tree

Cotinus ‘Grace’ is prized for its large, vibrant purple leaves that emerge a soft red in spring. The foliage matures to a dark iridescent purple-blue throughout summer before exploding into shades of orange, red and black in fall.

In early summer, ‘Grace’ produces feathery panicles of lavender-pink flowers that give way to its signature smoky plumes. These blooms cover the tree in a hazy lavender cloud.

Compared to other smoke trees, ‘Grace’ has the largest leaves, sometimes reaching 3 inches long. It’s a vigorous grower maturing at 10-15 feet tall and wide if left unpruned. However, annual pruning can easily keep it smaller.

‘Grace’ prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant once established. Some key advantages of Cotinus ‘Grace’ include:

• Huge purple leaves with amazing fall color
• Massive lavender-pink blooms create a stunning smoke effect
• Can be coppiced in spring for even bigger leaves
• Works well in borders, as a specimen or hedge

Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ Smokebush

Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ is the classic purple smoke tree, and for good reason. It features deep royal purple leaves all season long that contrast beautifully with its airy smoke-like blooms.

The foliage emerges reddish-purple in spring, darkening to an eggplant hue in summer. Clusters of tiny yellow flowers appear in early summer, transforming into fuzzy pink plumes that give it a hazy appearance.

Mature size is 10-15 feet tall and wide. However, it can be maintained at 8-10 feet with pruning. ‘Royal Purple’ performs best in full sun and well-draining soil. Positive traits include:

• Rich royal purple foliage all season
• Yellow blooms become pinkish-purple smoke
• More compact shape than ‘Grace’
• Easy care and drought tolerant
• Works in borders, mass plantings or containers

Differences Between Cotinus ‘Grace’ and ‘Royal Purple’

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s compare some key differences between these two outstanding smoke bushes:

Foliage Size

• ‘Grace’ has very large, rounded purple leaves up to 3 inches long.

• ‘Royal Purple’ has smaller, oval purple leaves, around 2 inches long.

Foliage Color

• ‘Grace’ leaves emerge red, turn purple-blue in summer, then vibrant orange and red in fall. More color variation.

• ‘Royal Purple’ is a deep even royal purple all season long without much fall color change.

Flowers

• ‘Grace’ features massive lavender-pink blooms.

• ‘Royal Purple’ has smaller pinkish-purple blooms.

Growth Habit

• ‘Grace’ is larger and more vigorous, growing 15 feet tall and wide.

-‘Royal Purple’ is slightly more compact at 10-15 feet tall and wide.

Pruning Needs

-‘Grace’ should be coppiced in late winter to encourage huge leaves.

-‘Royal Purple’ just needs light annual pruning for shaping.

Which is Better for Your Yard?

So which one is right for your landscape? Here are some factors to help decide:

-‘Grace’ is ideal if you want bold purple foliage and amazing fall color. Coppice yearly.

-‘Royal Purple’ is better if you prefer classic royal purple all season and a dense shape.

-Use ‘Grace’ as a specimen plant or colorful hedge with its large stature.

-Plant ‘Royal Purple’ in borders and mass plantings with its shorter form.

-Choose ‘Grace’ if you have the space for a larger, spreading plant.

-Select ‘Royal Purple’ for smaller gardens and foundation plantings.

Both are fabulous smoke tree choices. ‘Grace’ provides vibrant, oversized foliage while ‘Royal Purple’ gives rich color consistently all season. With proper placement and thoughtful pruning, either one can put on an incredible display in your garden.

Other Notable Smoke Tree Varieties

While ‘Grace’ and ‘Royal Purple’ may be the superstars, here are a few other exquisite smoke tree varieties to consider:

-Cotinus ‘Young Lady’ – Lime green foliage, pink blooms, compact 10 foot size.

-Cotinus ‘Golden Spirit’ – Chartreuse leaves with red fall color, pink plumes. Grows 10-15 feet.

-Cotinus ‘Velvet Cloak’ – Deep purple leaves with orange undersides, large growing to 20 feet.

-Cotinus ‘Ancot’ (Golden SpiritTM) – Vibrant yellow foliage that turns red-wine in fall. Pink blooms.

-Cotinus ‘Daydream’ – Blue-green leaves, profuse white plumes. Compact to 15 feet wide.

-Cotinus ‘Pink Champagne’ – Bronze spring leaves turn bright pink all season. Compact growth habit.

Smoke Tree Care Tips

-Plant in full sun for the brightest leaf colors and fullest blooms.

-Provide good drainage and drier soil. Avoid overly wet, clay soil.

-Water 1-2 times per week until established, then water only during drought.

-Fertilize in early spring with balanced, slow-release fertilizer.

-Prune annually in late winter to shape and thin out older branches.

-Coppicing ‘Grace’ in winter encourages bigger leaves but fewer blooms.

Add Graceful, Wispy Beauty to Your Garden

With their elegant purple foliage and smoky blooms, Cotinus ‘Grace’ and ‘Royal Purple’ are two of the most popular choices for any garden. Decide which smoke tree fits your landscape needs in terms of size, color and pruning requirements. Then get ready to enjoy a graceful, wispy display that looks like plumes of colorful smoke dancing across your yard.