The award-winning Golden Spirit smoketree is a large shrub or small tree that is primarily grown for its unique showy golden yellow leaves in the Anacardiaceae (cashew or poison ivy family). Flowering is questionable, as it was not created to flower like other varieties of the genus. After 4 years of testing, the patent issued in 2002 remarked "no flowering has been observed by the inventor to date". However, in the commercial market, nurseries do state that Golden Spirit will produce tiny flowers followed by smoky panicles similar to other cultivars. If flowering takes place, it will be on old wood. Plant in the full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. The best leaf coloration can be achieved when situated in full sun. Mass plant it or plant in small groups in a shrub border. Its striking leaves make it an excellent choice for a specimen or accent plant. It works well to screen, or it can be pruned into a hedge. Cutting back will result in new stems and larger, brighter foliage. The foliage is typically sun tolerant and scorch resistant unless extremely dry conditions persist. With its springtime orange-tinged chartreuse foliage, summer golden foliage and fall color, Golden Spirit will provide three seasons of interest to any garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Although relatively insect and disease free, there is some susceptibility to verticillium wilt, rust and leaf spot. Will not adapt to damp/moist poorly drained sites. This plant is in the same family as poison ivy and contact with the resinous sap may cause contact dermatitis especially to those sensitive to poison ivy. More information on Cotinus coggygria .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Yellow obovate to ovate leaves 3" long emerge chartreuse with hints of orange. They will turn amber to burgundy or green in the fall.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
It was developed to not flower, but some small yellow flowers have been observed in the spring followed by the smoky panicles that are the tiny hairs connected to the spent flowers that smoke trees are known for.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Stem detail
Grows naturally as a multi-trunked plant, but can be trained to take on a single trunk form.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe and Central China
Wildlife value
4 Lepidopteran larvae depend on the Cotinus genus.