The purple smoke tree shows off a very peculiar combination of colors that range from green to pink and then to purple. This is a very popular garden tree that is planted in the corners of garden plants throughout the United States of America and many other regions all across the world.

The purple smoke belongs to the Plantae kingdom. Within the kingdom, it is consecutively classified into category, Angiosperms, sub-category Eudicots, and a subordinate to the sub-category by the name, Rosids. It belongs to the Sapindales order, which means that it is a flowering plant. It is further classified into the family of Anacardiaceaes, which means that it is a flowering as well as fruit-bearing plant. It is known by various names throughout the United States, some of the common slang names that are used are smoke tree, purple smokin' tree, smoke bush, or simply the smokin' tree.

Physical Characteristics
They grow into either small trees or form clumps of medium-sized ones. The sizing of the plant depends on many different factors, like its sub species, the terrain on which it is growing, and also the amount of sunlight, care, and nutrition that it receives. Its leaves are deciduous in nature and have a tendency to grow in an alternative manner. An average leaf grows up to a length of about 3 to 13 cm and is ovular in shape. The flowers are usually cluttered on its topmost portion and have an appearance of a grayish cloud. The pinnacle of the clump of flowers usually has a diameter of about 15 to 30 cm. The fruit is single seeded and is known as the drupe.

Habitat
This tree is a native to the warm and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Due to its attractive and beautiful features, many botanists and greenhouse owners have replanted some young plants in the temperate regions of the southern hemisphere. The natural habitat of this tree stretches from Tennessee to Alabama and down to the wilderness of Texas.

Uses
The basic use of this plant is as an ornamental garden plant. If it grows into a proper tree and not just a shrub, then it is usually planted in the corner of the garden. Most of the landscape experts call this phenomenon as an 'eye-catching' corner piece. In case of mansions, the landscape designers prefer to make it the centerpiece of the front garden or the porch.

If you are planning to plant it in your garden, then keep in mind that these small shrubs need a lot of trimming and pruning. If it's a small tree then a lot of disciplining of branches is required. It must also be noted that this tree requires pruning annually, preferably in early spring time. Its specialty is that it gets molded in the form that it is proved and remains so for about a year or so. It also needs a lot of care as it has a wooden bark that can get infested quickly. However, the end result is extremely beautiful and eye-catching. It proves to be a very important asset to impress your guests.