COMMONLY known as the smoke bush because of its fluffy plumes of pale pink flowers which appear above the foliage in summer, producing a smoke-like haze, this deciduous shrub is a must for the autumn garden.

You need a fair amount of space as it can become the size of a small tree, so grow it as a stand-alone specimen or in a large shrub border in sun or light shade, in moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil.

Good choices include C Flame, whose oval, light green leaves turn brilliant orange-red in autumn, and C coggygria Royal Purple, grown for its purple foliage, whose leaves turn orange and red in autumn before falling.