A catalog of Native North American Plants: Cotinus obovatus

Cotinus obovatus

Common name:  Smoke Bush, American smoke- tree

Is closely related to the sumacs. They are large shrubs or small trees, native to the warm temperate northern hemisphere. The leaves are deciduous, alternate, simple oval shape, it has a strong-smelling sap. The plume when flowering gives an impression of smoke hence the name. The leaves print extremely well.

Dye Colors: Yellow, Orange, Black, Brown

Dye source

Mordant

Process

Color

Bark

Iron

Heat

Dark olive brown

Bark

Tin

Heat

Bright Orange

Bark

Alum

Heat

Gold

Bark

Copper

Heat

Bright antique gold

Bark

None

Heat

Dull yellow

Inflorescences

None

Heat

Light Khaki gray

Leaves

Copper

Heat

Light khaki

Leaves

Iron

Heat

Black - brown

Leaves

None

Heat

Light tan peach

Leaves

Tin

Heat

Bright golden yellow

Leaves

Alum

Heat

Dull yellow

Wood

Copper

Heat

Orange -brown

Wood

Iron

Heat

Dark brown

Wood

Alum

Heat

Terra -cotta

Wood

Tin

Heat

Red-orange

 

smoke bush

Samples: Cotton, Linen, wool, silk
Mordant: Alum
Dye : leaves 
Modifier : Rust