smoke tree

American  

noun

1. Also called American smoke tree, chittamwood.  a tree, Cotinus obovatus, of the cashew family, native to the southeastern U.S., having egg-shaped leaves and large clusters of small white flowers.

2. Also called Venetian sumac.  a related shrub, C. coggygria, of Eurasia, having elliptical leaves and clusters of hairy, purple flowers.

---

smoke tree British  

noun

1. an anacardiaceous shrub, Cotinus coggygria, of S Europe and Asia, having clusters of yellowish feathery flowers

2. a related tree, Cotinus americanus, of the southern US

---

Etymology

Origin of smoke tree

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Early on, a photograph of a U-shaped smoke trail circulated on social media along with the now-debunked claim that an Iranian missile misfired and hit the school.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

The King and senior royals watched on as a war-time Lancaster bomber led the 23-strong formation including Typhoons and the Red Arrows with their red, white and blue smoke trail.

From BBC • May 5, 2025

They cast smoke over much of Los Angeles, worsening air quality across a broad swath of the city, and the smoke trail could be seen out over the Pacific Ocean.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2025

“We think it’s a contrail from a jet,” he said of the so-called smoke trail in Moore’s video.

From Washington Post • Feb. 4, 2023

Finally a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue, white, and gold of the new South African flag.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela