Pruning Multi Stem Cotinus to Standard.

Is it possible? I have an established happy multi stemmed Cotinus which I cut back every year. Can I make it into a single stemmed tree?

 

You can if you leave one stem to grow and continuously remove the unwanted ones. This will put the energy into height once there is a dominant leader.

 

Thanks.

Is there a variety which is particularly good for standard form?

 

I don't know which would be the best cultivar for a standard form. If you already have one then you should be able to train it.

We have a small growing cultivar that only reaches 1.5-2m and that would make a more standard rose size display but there are vigorous cultivars like amazing grace, that may be difficult to control.

 

Interesting reading this. I have a Cotinus Grace which as a young plant had an untidy look because of the spindly stems and weight of leaves which kept hanging down to the ground below. After a couple of years of careful pruning I have now created a stronger structure of multi stems to support fresh growth which seems to be heading upwards this year, instead of down.

Of all the Cotinus varieties I think that Grace has the best colour, particularly with low morning or evening sun lighting up the leaves. A garden that I walk past locally had one grown as a single stemmed tree, with the crown lifted which looked fantastic until new owners moved in and removed it . If you can train your shrub like that with a single main trunk and you have sufficient space, it would make an excellent feature.

 

This is my Cotinus Grace @Howard Stone, pruned into a forked stem with 2 forked stems above. It suits the space to fill a gap and contrast with the grasses and perennials nearby.

 

This is one in a house in Wimbledon. The owner prunes it in August/September.

Clearly we need a variety which flowers profusely and reliably, and which has decent leaves from old wood.

 

@Plantminded yours does look nice. I've never grown grace and was going by reputation and a friends experience. It was said that "grace needs space" because of how vigorous it can be and its natural arching habit. It's obviously down to growing conditions and admittedly my friend lives in Ireland which has more rain and heavy soil but hers grows 6-8ft plus per year. I notice on burncoose and ballyrobert that it's the only cotinus which is described as vigorous.

We have royal purple which looks like the one in Wimbledon above, more a tree than a bush but it doesn't grow more than a couple of feet a year here.

 

Thank you @Thevictorian. As you say, growing conditions will limit its size. I need vigorous plants here because of my shallow, sandy soil . It has been a very polite resident so far!

 

I was speaking to my friend today and although I was accurate it appears that her cotinus grace isn't normally quite as vigorous as 6-8ft in a year but it was spurred on by all the rain last year. She believes it still normally puts on 4-5ft but last year was exceptional. I can understand that because normally our pyracantha puts on 3ft or so each year but last year it made 4-6ft in places. Most other things were just more lush but that really romped.

 

Still an impressive growth rate @Thevictorian. Does your friend pollard the Cotinus?

 

I believe she does @Plantminded but not every year, just when it begins to take over.