Londus Purple Smoke Tree/Bush

‘Londus’, marketed as Dusky Maiden, is a deciduous Cotinus hybrid with purple-red spring and summer foliage, orange-red fall color, and airy pink summer plumes. Breeder Peter Moore records its parentage as C. szechuanensis × C. coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’, so this selection is kept at genus level rather than assigned to C. coggygria alone. [The breeder’s Dusky Maiden profile](https://bredbypetermoore.co.uk/plant/cotinus-dusky-maiden/) and [Plantipp’s exact Londus listing](https://plantipp.eu/Plants/cotinus-coggygria-dusky-maiden-londuspbr) identify the selection and its traits. ## Garden Use Use this compact, bushy shrub as a foliage feature in a border or patio container. The breeder gives a ten-year size of 200–250 cm tall by 150 cm wide; Plantipp describes a plant about 150 cm in both directions. Treat these as differing mature-size guides rather than a single precise endpoint. More sun deepens the red tones, while the summer plumes add a second seasonal feature. ## Growing Conditions Choose a sunny position with fertile, well-drained soil. The breeder reports hardiness to −18°C and Plantipp to −25°C; neither temperature claim is translated into a USDA zone. ## Maintenance Pruning is optional. The breeder suggests cutting back in March to reduce size; such a strong cut can reduce or remove that season’s flowers, so leave flowering shoots when plumes are desired.