Hortus Botanicus Leiden, Netherlands

Common name: Pruikenboom, smoke tree, smoke wood, 黄栌 huang lu

Family: Anacardiaceae (Cashew family)

Distribution: Z.-Europa tot M.-China

Hardiness: Zone 05

Life form: Woody

Comments: Shrub up to 2.5 meters tall; sometimes it grows into a small tree. Round crown, broadening with age. In May and June, the flowers appear in large lilac-green panicles; the flowers themselves are small and inconspicuous. The hairy, purplish flower stems extend as the fruits ripen, giving the panicles the appearance of a tangled wig. The smooth twigs have an unpleasant odor. Leaves are three to eight centimeters long and obovate. Drops of water remain on the leaves like pearls. It grows naturally from southeastern France through Turkey and Ukraine to the Himalayas and China. Clusius brought the smoke tree to our region; the plant has been cultivated since 1594. It stands out in the autumn garden because of its orange and red leaves. The shrub is very winter-hardy and can tolerate plenty of sun and heat, as well as periods of drought.