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purple smoke tree dies back every year

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From: Kristin Krause City: Durham, ME
I have two purple smoke trees growing in sheltered places against my house. I've had them three years and each year they grow about 5-6 ft tall, then die back in winter and start all over in the spring. They won't grow on the previous years stalks. They get plenty of sun and look healthy, with lots of leaves and have nice color, but they never get tall or tree-like. So???
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
If the smokebush to not harden off with winter coming, the above ground parts are likely to freeze to the ground. If this location stays warm too long into the fall, this could happen. the long growth each year is the result of the roots having lots of energy that would have otherwise gone into the entire overwintering plant.
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