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Cotinus--purple leaves or not?

Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
in Plants
I tend to love the paler forms of Cotinus coggygria, the smoke or wig bush. It's been fashionable for some years to pollard these (effectively) to make them grow bigger leaves in one season. I am not so keen on that idea. I've just come across Cotinus 'Old Fashioned' and was wondering whether anyone grows this and can recommend it, or another variety that is not 'Grace'. I'm tempted by the purple varieties but I just feel the pale ones would look better. Any thoughts?

Posts

  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    I've recently bought Cotinus 'Young Lady' after seeing it growing in a friend's garden. It has soft green leaves and superb pink flowers. I have grown 'Grace' but it got too big for its spot and when I cut it hard back the resulting growth was lax and very long, flopping over everything else. Cotinus 'Royal Purple' remains a favourite and I have planted it with Leycesteria formosa 'Golden Lanterns'.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    May be called Old fashioned but this is a new one.Plant breeders rights one.
    Maybe too early to judge.
    Rather vigorous apparently.

     https://www.plantipp.eu/en/Plants/cotinus-coggygria-old-fashionedpbr-2/
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I have seen both green and purple forms growing in Belgian gardens open to the public on selected weekends and they both have their attractions.   For this - new to us - garden, I have planted the purple leaved form.   If I fond one, I'll grow the green leaved one too but in a shadier bed. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I grow this one, Golden Spirit in a shady area, as well as a purple one.


    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Rickyjones24Rickyjones24 Posts: 88
    I also hearty recommend golden spirit, but maybe a bit bright green for some. I also have'flame' which is a very subdued darker green all year, hidden away unnoticed until autum when it becomes an absolute star and impossible to miss, recomended if you want something that springs to life, but is hidden rest of year. The purples are obviously more overt, if you can position one so the sun shines through it as viewed from your main vantage point, then they are spectacular all year and perhaps a better option? 
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