The American smoke tree, scientifically known as Cotinus obovatus, is a deciduous and rounded tree native to Texas. It can grow to 20-30 feet tall and be a large, upright shrub. Despite its name, the smoke tree is not named after its tiny, insignificant, yellowish-green flowers that bloom in June. Instead, it gets its name from the billowy hairs that turn a smoky pink to purplish pink in summer, which are attached to elongated stalks on the spent flower clusters. This gives the tree a fluffy, hazy, smoke-like appearance. The species name refers to the bluish-green leaves shaped like an inverted egg. During the fall, the foliage turns various colors such as yellow, red, orange, and reddish-purple, producing some of the best fall colors among native American trees and shrubs.
