How to prune cotinus coggygria 'golden spirit'

Early spring before bud break (March–April). For maximum foliage impact, cut all main stems back to 30–45 cm above ground each spring (coppicing/stooling). For mixed foliage and flowers, remove only the oldest third of stems and tip back others lightly. Avoid summer or autumn pruning.

Annually for foliage display; every 2–3 years for flowering. 'Golden Spirit' (sold as Ancot) has luminous golden-lime foliage and performs beautifully as a foliage shrub. Prune hard in early spring to get the largest, most vividly coloured leaves, or prune lightly for smoke-like plumes in summer. Dead, diseased, or crossing stems should always be removed.

For maximum foliage impact, cut all main stems back to 30–45 cm above ground each spring (coppicing/stooling). For mixed foliage and flowers, remove only the oldest third of stems and tip back others lightly. Avoid summer or autumn pruning.