American Smoketree, Chittamwood                ko-TI-nus ob-oh-VA-tus

• Broadleaf deciduous shrub/tree, usually 20-30(50) ft [6-9(15) m], similar width, upright, oval-rounded to round-headed.  Leaves alternate, simple, obovate to elliptic-obovate, 5-13 cm long, rounded to emarginate (slight notch) at apex, wedge-shaped at base (cuneate), bluish to dark green; fall foliage is yellow, orange, amber, and red-purple.  Flowers male and female flowers occur on separate trees (i.e., dioecious), flower clusters 15-25 cm long, more or less inconspicuous pale purplish or brownish hairs on sterile flower stalks; reportedly the bloom of male trees in showiest.  Fruit few produced, oblong, flat, 5 mm long, pale brown, dry, 1-seeded; scattered in large branched clusters to 20 cm long; maturing in summer.
• Sun, does well on poor soil and reportedly has minimal insect and disease problems.  Grown for its colorful fall foliage.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 4   Native to areas in Tennessee, Alabama and Texas.  A few cultivars: ‘Red Leaf’ has consistent brilliant fall color.  ‘Grace’ is the result of a cross between C. coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’ and a male C. obovatus, it is a tall shrub with purplish-red leaves, turning scarlet in the fall.
• obovatus: obovate, widest above the middle, refers to the leaves.