The Eurasian smoke bush or smoketree (Cotinus coggygria) grows as a guest from southeastern countries of the Mediterranean region, Central Asia and the northeastern Himalayas with us in Germany as a decorative ornamental shrub. The name refers to the kind of cloud or airy smoky pink looking inflorescences that look like a fluffy grayish-buff cloud of smoke over the plant, like wig-like shaped woolly fruit clusters. The smoke bush can grow to be 3-5 m tall with an irregular habit, only rarely forming a small tree. The wood of this species has been used for dying and tanning leather in the past, and was said to produce the finest leathers of all tanning agents. Accordingly the wood looks very intensive golden yellowish, resembling the wood of the staghorn sumac, yet more intense golden yellow. The wood is hard and resistant and belongs to the sought-after species already because of its rarity, especially since the growth rarely produces noteworthy trunk diameters.
