I have a Purple Smoke Tree/bush, about three years old.
Every year - late Spring, it gets the "flurry/smokey" things on the end of the limbs; but only for a week or so. then tey schrival up and die off. The rest of the tree remains healthy and the leaves are pretty, but no "smoke"
I'm in zone 5 and the soil is clay and moist; but when I planted it, we used top soil to fill in the hole.
Any ideas?
thank you
Susan

Hi there, I'm going to go ahead and move this to the plants and flowers forum where it will get more replies.....

Glad to have you here!

Laura

Maybe it is too wet.

The fall color is one of my favorites, regardless of the flowers.

HI susan the "flurry/smokey" things are where the plants get there name from a distance they look like a puff of smoke.they do not bloom very long but are very pretty while in bloom.so i would think your plants are healthy.they do not actualy "smoke".hope this helps your friend in gardening.mike57

Susan,

You did the right thing by putting good soil into the planting hole.

But, when you plant in heavy clay, you are essentially making a giant pot. The clay drains so slowly that it is like a large planter with a very small drainage hole, holding the water.

When I plant in such conditions, I fill the bottom 6" or so of the hole with gravel & sand to allow water to drain away from the roots.