Family: Anacardiaceae

Cotinus coggygria, commonly known as fustet or smokebush, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to southern Europe and western Asia. It is best known for its airy, smoke-like flower plumes that appear in shades of pink, purple, or tan, giving the plant its distinctive, cloudlike look. Smokebush is widely cultivated as an ornamental for gardens and landscapes, valued for its striking foliage, which can range from green to deep purple, and for its tolerance of a range of soils and growing conditions. Historically, fustet has also been used as a source of yellow dye for textiles and leather.

Although Cotinus coggygria is not currently known to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi, it does possess traits that are cause for concern. The species can tolerate dry conditions, produce abundant seed, and thrive in disturbed or open areas—characteristics that may allow it to spread beyond cultivation under favorable conditions. If unmanaged, these traits could potentially lead to competition with native plants or alteration of local ecosystems. Caution is recommended when planting smokebush in Hawaiʻi, and choosing low-risk or native alternatives is encouraged to help ensure this species does not negatively impact island ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate & soil tolerance
  
• Documented as invasive in plantations/forests
  
• Low palatability to herbivores (e.g., deer)
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Reproduces vegetatively (suckering)
  
• Human-dispersed & wind-dispersed
  
• Forms a persistent seed bank
  
• Tolerates pruning/mutilation (coppices)

Low Risk Traits:

• No major naturalization reported
  
• Not a significant garden/environmental weed
  
• Non-toxic to animals and humans
  
• Lacks spines/thorns; not parasitic
  
• No evidence of major unintended dispersal (water, bird, animal)
  
• Can be controlled via physical removal