Cotinus

The genus Scumpia (Cotinus) is a small deciduous tree and shrub with a brown-brown bark. The crown is spherical or umbellate, the shoots are glabrous, shiny or pubescent. The leaves are regular simple ovate, bluish, on a short petiole. Low-decorative small yellowish flowers are collected in apical cone-shaped panicles. Much more spectacular are the oval glossy drupe fruits sitting on pubescent legs that give the plant a feathery appearance; they are poisonous. Plants are cold-resistant, drought-resistant. Scumpia coggigria, yellowberry, or greenhouse tree (Cotinus coggigria), is the most common species; it is widely known in Europe as the "fog tree". It is characterized by a rounded crown with oval light green leaves, which in autumn acquire particularly bright shades. Blooms in June; smoky-gray pubescent fruits are formed in late summer. There are numerous decorative forms, such as 'Dark purple', or' Purple', with purple-gray flowers; 'Flame' with intense orange-red autumn foliage and pink flowers; 'Purple Leaves'; 'Royal Purple' with young purple leaves and with various red and purple hues in the fall. American Scumpia (C. americanus) is usually larger than the previous species. It is an erect crop with a rounded crown and egg-shaped bluish-green leaves, which acquire a bright color in autumn-from red to orange and purple; blooms in July.

The genus Scumpia (Cotinus) is a small deciduous tree and shrub with a brown-brown bark. The crown is spherical or umbellate, the shoots are glabrous, shiny or pubescent. The leaves are regular simple ovate, bluish, on a short petiole. Low-decorative small yellowish flowers are collected in apical cone-shaped panicles. Much more spectacular are the oval glossy drupe fruits sitting on pubescent legs that give the plant a feathery appearance; they are poisonous. Plants are cold-resistant, drought-resistant.

Scumpia coggigria, yellowberry, or greenhouse tree (Cotinus coggigria), is the most common species; it is widely known in Europe as the "fog tree". It is characterized by a rounded crown with oval light green leaves, which in autumn acquire particularly bright shades. Blooms in June; smoky-gray pubescent fruits are formed in late summer. There are numerous decorative forms, such as 'Dark purple', or' Purple', with purple-gray flowers; 'Flame' with intense orange-red autumn foliage and pink flowers; 'Purple Leaves'; 'Royal Purple' with young purple leaves and with various red and purple hues in the fall.

American Scumpia (C. americanus) is usually larger than the previous species. It is an erect crop with a rounded crown and egg-shaped bluish-green leaves, which acquire a bright color in autumn-from red to orange and purple; blooms in July.

Cultivation

Scumpia is grown in parks and gardens as an ornamental crop, sometimes in mixed hedges. Beautiful coloring of lush inflorescences of purple shades and autumn tonality of yellow, pink or purple-purple leaves. Young plants are planted permanently in October in cold climates, in other climatic zones in March. Plants are not demanding of the soil; they prefer fertile, well-drained ones. It is recommended to apply organic fertilizers in the fall, embedding them in the soil at the rate of 2-3 kg/m2. During the growing season, young plants are fed once a month - 20 g of mineral fertilizer with trace elements per bucket of water is added to irrigation water.

Scumpia is grown in parks and gardens as an ornamental crop, sometimes in mixed hedges. Beautiful coloring of lush inflorescences of purple shades and autumn tonality of yellow, pink or purple-purple leaves. Young plants are planted permanently in October in cold climates, in other climatic zones in March.

Plants are not demanding of the soil; they prefer fertile, well-drained ones. It is recommended to apply organic fertilizers in the fall, embedding them in the soil at the rate of 2-3 kg/m2.

During the growing season, young plants are fed once a month - 20 g of mineral fertilizer with trace elements per bucket of water is added to irrigation water.

Location

Scumpia prefers a place in the open sun, very light-loving.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

It is necessary for young plants, especially immediately after transplanting or during a long drought.

Care

In early spring, dry, weak or randomly growing branches are removed.

Reproduction

In culture, it is propagated by layers, cuttings and seeds. It is well renewed by overgrowth. At the end of summer, semi-woody cuttings 10-15 cm long are taken and placed in a mixture of sand and peat in a closed, unheated room. After the formation of roots, cuttings are planted singly in pots. As they develop, they are periodically transplanted into new containers - so until the next spring, when they are finally planted. Another method of reproduction is by layering in September. Dig in a long branch, having previously made incisions on the underside. New rooted plants are separated from the mother plant after a year. The seeds have good germination, but the seedlings grow rather slowly at first.

In culture, it is propagated by layers, cuttings and seeds. It is well renewed by overgrowth. At the end of summer, semi-woody cuttings 10-15 cm long are taken and placed in a mixture of sand and peat in a closed, unheated room. After the formation of roots, cuttings are planted singly in pots. As they develop, they are periodically transplanted into new containers - so until the next spring, when they are finally planted.

Another method of reproduction is by layering in September. Dig in a long branch, having previously made incisions on the underside. New rooted plants are separated from the mother plant after a year. The seeds have good germination, but the seedlings grow rather slowly at first.

Diseases

Very often, especially purple-leaved forms, powdery mildew affects, which manifests itself in the form of powdery white deforming spots on the leaves. The disease is eliminated with the help of appropriate drugs, such as sulfur or karathane. Vertical wilt manifests itself in the drying out of the branches. Damaged plant parts must be removed immediately.

Acquisition

Scumpia can be found in specialized gardening centers and nurseries. Choose healthy and well-formed specimens.