Cotinus Adans.

Greek kotinos — wild olive; allusion uncertain.

Grown for the ornamental foliage that is colourful in autumn and the wispy flower clusters.

3 species from SE USA and S Europe to N China.

Cuttings and seed.

Leaves and bark the source of tannin; a yellow dye, fustic, is extracted from the wood.

Wood yellow; leaves simple; fruit and flower clusters wispy and feather-like.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Anacardiaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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Cultivars of hybrid origin

Cotinus 'Flame'

Autumn leaves bright orange-red. Probably a hybrid C. coggygria × C. obovatus.

Cotinus 'Grace'

A purple-leaved hybrid  C. coggygria 'Velvet Cloak' × C. obovatus, raised by Peter Drummer at Hillier Nsy, UK.

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Rosanae
order      Sapindales
family       Anacardiaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Cotinus coggygria Scop.