smoke tree

noun

1. Also called American smoke tree, chittamwood. a tree, Cotinus obovatus, of the cashew family, native to the southeastern U.S., having egg-shaped leaves and large clusters of small white flowers.
2. Also called Venetian sumac. a related shrub, C. coggygria, of Eurasia, having elliptical leaves and clusters of hairy, purple flowers.

smoke tree

noun

1. an anacardiaceous shrub, Cotinus coggygria, of S Europe and Asia, having clusters of yellowish feathery flowers
2. a related tree, Cotinus americanus, of the southern US

Word History and Origins

Origin of smoke tree¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Word History and Origins

Origin of smoke tree¹

C19: so named because of the similarity between its flower clusters and a cloud of smoke

Example Sentences

Striding along an arroyo lined with creosote brush, smoke trees and countless out-of-sight animal burrows and washes, Clarke said, “We favor renewable energy but not here.”

From Los Angeles Times

Among the 16 landscape paintings and five drawings are wonderful images of smoke trees and date palms.

From Los Angeles Times

Hailing from the Southern United States, it’s the big daddy of the smoke tree species.

From Seattle Times

Shades of maroon, purple and rose fill smoke trees, cut-leaf Japanese maples and kousa dogwoods, as well as asters, stonecrop and annual coleus.

From Washington Post

I used to limit the size of my smoke tree by cutting all the branches down to about 6 inches from the ground every spring.

From Seattle Times