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$36.00
This striking shrub/small tree hails from sunny limestone slopes across Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia. It belongs to the Anacardiaceae family which includes Sumac, Mangoes and Cashews. It has attractive rounded dark purple leaves which turn a stunning fiery red in autumn. However the real show is provided by the masses of wispy purple-pink flower panicles in summer, resembling plumes of smoke and giving the plant its name.
PB5 40-70cm high
Photos: Kahikatea Farm. Third photo shows green and purple variants
Extremely cold hardy and wind tolerant, and happy to grow in average soils, including clay, these are generally easy plants to grow. They do prefer calcareous soils, and a reasonable level of moisture and fertility will give more growth, but less colour intensity. Foliage colour and flower production is also much better in an open, sunny position, although the plants will tolerate some shade. Smokebush can be cut back hard in late winter or early spring, or coppiced (cut to the ground completely and repeatedly), which will produce vigorous resprouting and ensure an abundance of leaves, and will keep the plant at a manageable size. However flowering will not be as dramatic the following season.
Smokebush has been used for medicinal purposes across Europe and Asia since ancient times, in particular for wound healing. Other localised uses include fever reduction, cardiac diseases, hypertension, urinary diseases, gynecological disorders, cough, asthma, hemorrhoids, diabetes, skin diseases, eczema, acne, frostbite, haemorrhoids, boils, varicose veins, liver disease, and cancer. Smoke Tree extracts can be used in toothpaste and mouthwash to maintain healthy gums, freshen breath, kill plaque-causing bacteria, relieve periodontitis and gingivitis and to heal abscesses.
Modern day in vitro and in vivo experiments have supported its effectiveness, showing wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, cytotoxic, antioxidative, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects due to a broad spectrum of polyphenolic secondary metabolites such as tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, as well as volatile organic compounds.
For internal use the leaves are the most frequently used plant part, sometimes with young twigs, as an infusion or fresh. Perhaps a less useful remedy nowadays is slices of the wood extracted in badger fat to treat slowly healing wounds!
Primary Actions: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and an anti-hemorrhagic, astringent, antioxidant antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic (promotes blood clotting).
Parts Used: leaves, twigs
N.B. Shipping costs are added AFTER you have placed your order, you will then be emailed an invoice with bank details.
Smallest box rate:
This can fit up to 9 plants in 9cm pots.
Shipping a single tree can be expensive. We may be able to fit more in the box for the same price! See our shipping rates for single and multi tree boxes.
Combining sizes?
No problem, we will work out the best rate for you once you’ve placed your order.
Jo has a passion for growing herbs but is not a qualified herbalist and has no medical background.
We are lucky to have Patricia Beagle working here at times, who is qualified, and some of her advice does appear on these pages, but herbs act differently for different people and can interact with other medicines. We therefore always recommend that you consult with your own qualified health-care practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing or on any medications.
Kahikatea Farm cannot take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants or a plant not having the effect it is reputed to have.
