• Cotinus Golden Spirit plant potted
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Cotinus Golden Spirit

Cotinus Golden Spirit

Smoke Bush

$20.00
$20.00
Sale Sold out
Taxes included.
Pot Size/Grade

Cotinus ‘Golden Spirit’ is a deciduous smoke bush grown mainly for its bright golden-yellow leaves that light up the garden from spring right through summer, then shift into warm amber, orange and red tones in autumn. It forms an upright, multi-stemmed shrub that’s ideal as a feature plant, for mixed borders, or to break up big blocks of green in a new-build landscape.

In summer, soft, smoky flower plumes can appear (often more on older wood), adding extra texture without being fussy. It’s a great “structure + colour” shrub for South Island gardeners who want something hardy and different without signing up for constant pruning.

  • Expected 5 Year Height 3.0 M Width 2.0 M

Is Cotinus Golden Spirit suitable for my garden?

Cotinus Golden Spirit is best suited in a position that gets

  • Partial shade

Cotinus Golden Spirit is

  • Deciduous
  • Frost Tolerant
  • Flowering

Cotinus Golden Spirit will thrive in soil that is

How to establish your Cotinus Golden Spirit?

Position: Plant Cotinus ‘Golden Spirit’ in full sun for the strongest leaf colour (it will tolerate light shade, but can look greener).

Soil: Aim for well-drained soil. Avoid wet, boggy spots — that’s when smoke bush sulks.

Watering (first season): Water deeply 1–2 times a week during dry spells for the first summer. Once established, it’s generally drought-tolerant and only needs a drink in prolonged dry periods.

Mulch: A 5–7cm layer of mulch helps conserve moisture and improves soil over time (keep it off the trunk).

Frost: Smoke bush is very cold-hardy, making it a good fit for frost-prone inland and southern areas.

How to maintain your Cotinus Golden Spirit once established?

Pruning (choose your goal):
Want flowers/smoke plumes? Do light shaping in late winter/early spring—remove dead, rubbing, or awkward branches.

Want bold foliage and tighter size? Do a hard prune in late winter/early spring (cut back to a low framework / a few buds). You’ll usually trade off some flowers, but you’ll get bigger leaves and a tidier plant.

Feeding: Don’t overfeed. Cotinus generally performs well without much fertiliser—too much nitrogen can mean soft growth.

General tidy: Each winter, remove any dead or damaged wood and keep the centre open for airflow.
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