Smokin' Smoke Trees

June 2021 The cool wet weather we had through May has been a gardener’s dream—green lushness and flowers all around are marvelous. But enough is enough. It’s time for some sunshine, because plants, and people, need that too. I won’t plant anything else until next Fall because summer heat is brutal on young plants. Then I’ll see how everything has filled in and decide where I can tuck in something else. And I already have a plant-in-waiting to tuck in somewhere that was an unexpected surprise.

From the first time I glimpsed the billowy cloud surrounding a smoke tree, I wanted one. American Smoke Tree and Purple Smoke Tree are two varieties I’m aware of; the latter is smaller and supposedly retains its purple color all summer (most everything I plant that’s supposed to stay purple, doesn’t). When in bloom, they appear to be in a cloud of smoke, thus their name. A densely branched smoke tree in bloom is a sight to behold.

Several months ago, I started looking, but nurseries didn’t have them. We had a hundred-year freeze event this past February which wiped out many of the growers’ stock, which has resulted in many plants being hard to get, and expensive. I decided to wait for Fall and hope they were back in stock.

A week ago, I saw a Facebook Marketplace post from someone who wanted to trade plants to replace what he lost in the freeze. He listed the plants he wanted to trade. Can you imagine how my heart leaped to see two smoke trees listed?! I sent him pictures of what I had to trade and invited him over to take a look. He brought the two smoke trees and found a couple of plants he wanted and we made the exchange. He said it was worth the smoke trees just to see the prayer garden. Hearts and smiley faces!

This is the taller of the two. The smoky blooms are visible but it's sparse. They bloom more in the Spring.

These were Purple Smoke Trees, which is what I wanted. He had gotten them from an herbalist who had them in pots for years. Would this stunt them? How would they do? I was willing to find out. They were less than two feet tall and the pots didn’t have a lot of dirt in them. One was smaller and fuller than the other. The taller one had one stalk about 1.5 tall and some growth at the bottom. They weren’t root bound as I expected, but the roots were hard and old-looking. The one-gallon containers made them fairly easy to plant since they don’t require a large hole.

I'm completely blown away at this unexpected surprise and can’t wait to watch them grow. I have a feeling they’re going to take off like rockets, now that they’re in the ground, released after years in their pot prison. They must be tough little guys because they look quite healthy for all that neglect! You can’t see them in all their smoky glory in the picture—it will take awhile for them to mature and develop to their full potential and splendor. I imagine God has a purpose for them—to be the Royal Purple brigade in His garden!

I’m filled with thankfulness and awe that my Lord knows my heart and gives gifts to his children. Yes, I believe every good thing comes from God, even these small, seemingly insignificant smokin' Purple Smoke Trees.

Close up of a bloom

This is the tree that was shorter and fuller. It It retained it's basic shape but sends out a long shoot here and there. I love it's odd twists and bends, which is hard to see in the picture