NATIVE ORANGE-FLOWERING TREE GREAT FOR BIRDS
FEATURES:
May Benefit & Attract: Cardinals & grosbeaks, wrens, sparrows, thrushes, orioles, finches, mockingbirds & thrashers, vireos, wood warblers
- In late spring, orange-yellow blooms appear in clusters that look like clouds of smoke
- Blueish-green foliage provides a wonderful contrast for the yellow flower poofs
- In fall, the foliage slowly transitions to a range of pastels - raspberry, lemon, orange and lime - before blazing into pink-orange flames
- Female trees attract finches with their small seeds in fall but the males have bigger flower sprays
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these trees safer for the birds and safer for the environment
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Mature Height: 20-30' tall
- Mature Width: 20-30' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Spacing: 20-30' apart
Audubon® Native Smoketree Treeling
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Audubon® Plants for Birds: Cotinus obovatus
Regular price
1(866) 873-3888
NATIVE ORANGE-FLOWERING TREE GREAT FOR BIRDS
FEATURES:
May Benefit & Attract: Cardinals & grosbeaks, wrens, sparrows, thrushes, orioles, finches, mockingbirds & thrashers, vireos, wood warblers
- In late spring, orange-yellow blooms appear in clusters that look like clouds of smoke
- Blueish-green foliage provides a wonderful contrast for the yellow flower poofs
- In fall, the foliage slowly transitions to a range of pastels - raspberry, lemon, orange and lime - before blazing into pink-orange flames
- Female trees attract finches with their small seeds in fall but the males have bigger flower sprays
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these trees safer for the birds and safer for the environment
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Mature Height: 20-30' tall
- Mature Width: 20-30' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Spacing: 20-30' apart
Why plant Audubon® Native Smoketree Treeling?
An autumn bonfire! Smoke Tree gets its name from its wispy, pinkish, late-spring flowers that look like clouds of smoke, but the real conflagration happens in fall, when the foliage combusts. The color change starts gradually at first, the blue-green leaves taking on pastel rainbow-sherbet shades of raspberry, orange, lemon, and lime. Eventually the whole canopy becomes a blaze of pink-orange flames. Tree and shrub authority Michael Dirr says, “it may be the best of all American shrub/trees for intensity of color.” We agree! As an added bonus, female Smoke Trees offer up small seeds that attract finches.
Smoke Tree’s native range is limited to just a few scattered pockets in the south-central U.S. It’s found in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas, and possibly in a few more neighboring states. Its small population size was not helped by the fact that the wood contains yellow-orange dye that was once highly coveted. Overharvesting, especially during the Civil War, depleted the already small numbers. The nation’s largest specimen today is actually a tree planted far outside of its natural range. This multi-stemmed beauty, in Connecticut, is 33 feet tall and 47 feet wide.
How to use Audubon® Native Smoketree Treeling in the landscape?
We all think we have a few eccentric family members, but Smoke Tree has us beat! Its closest relatives include Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Cashews, Mangoes, and Pistachios. (Smoke Tree foliage does not make you itch, in case you were wondering.)
Audubon® Native Plants & Trees
Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.
What is the definition of Native?
“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society
Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.
Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zones: 4-8
How To Plant Audubon® Native Smoketree Treeling
Grow your Smoke Tree in full sun for the most intense fall color. The type of soil doesn’t matter much as long as it drains quickly. This tree enjoys regular water during establishment (our Elements™ Watering System will help you deliver the right amount), but after a year or two, it should be quite drought tolerant. This is a dioecious tree, which means that there are male and female clones. Males have bigger flower sprays, but only females have seeds for finches (if a male tree is nearby for pollination). Smoke Tree is late to leaf out in spring, so be patient.
How To Water
Water regularly after initial planting. Once established, they are more tolerant of drought conditions, reducing your hand-watering responsibilities.
How To Fertilize
During fall, feed your Smoketree Bower & Branch Elements Fertilizer once a year for about the first 3 or 4 years - this will give your tree all the nutrients it needs.
How To Prune
Smoketrees should be pruned so that dead branches and twigs that may be diseased can be removed. Do not compost any disease branches, dispose of them appropriately in the garbage.
How Does Shipping Work?
Size Small, Medium, and Large plants (our Treelings, Shrubs, Bushes, and Perennials) will be shipped directly to your home by a common carrier. Ships in a plant-safe designed box within 7-12 business days.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health.. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
