BUILDING BLOCKS OF COLOUR

COTINUS

Colour in the garden creates mood and is a key building block in the design process. Generally we look to flowers for the exciting reds, relaxing blues and warm yellows and oranges. Shades of green tend to be the staple for the foliage of shrubs, hedging and trees that provide structure for all or part of the year. But there are some really exciting shrubs and small trees that offer different colours of foliage which can transform your garden into something out of the ordinary.

For a sense of affluence, a calming feel and a fulsome, well-rounded look, species and varieties of Cotinus have lots to offer. Also known as Smoke bush, because of the 'smoke-like' appearance of its delicate flower clusters, many varieties produce purple foliage that can transform the look of a border. Cotinus also has the presence to be effective on its own as a specimen plant in the garden. By establishing plants with different coloured leaves, you can provide attractive contrast with the greens of shrubs, trees and lawns and give flowering plants an interesting background.

Cotinus coggygria offers beautiful varieties, that will bring the benefits of purple foliage to the garden. 'Royal purple' produces dark red-purple leaves that turn scarlet in autumn. A bushy tree or shrub, it reaches a height and spread at maturity of approximately 5 metres. 'Grace' is a slightly bigger plant (approximately 6 metres when fully grown). It produces oval, purple leaves which turn a brilliant red in late autumn.

Both of these will work equally well in a shrub border or as specimen plants. Where space is limited in small gardens, remember that shrubs or small trees like this can be kept in check by pruning. This treatment has an added bonus with Cotinus which responds by putting on extra large leaves. If there is space to allow the plants to reach full size, the only maintenance needed is a tidy up in late winter/early spring. Cotinus is fully hardy and will thrive in most garden soils provided they are moderately fertile, well drained but moist. The purple-leaved varieties mentioned produce their best colour effects in full sun.

Working with colour can achieve great results, whatever the size of your garden. Make the glorious greens of this time of year even more enjoyable by providing a visual contrast and for extra effect use the purple of Cotinus as a colourful backdrop to flowering plants.

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