My first thought was that you just don't have enough space between the fence and the patio to make this work, but perhaps I'm missing something. A pic would help a lot!

Also, how tall is the fence and how is it oriented? Is it going to block sunlight from the shrub when you let jasmine cover it? You're in the PNW, so structures cast long shadows most of the year. Your shrub will need lots of light to look its best and flower.

What's on the other side of the fence? If you have a neighbor there or a sidewalk, the shrub will invade that space and you will end up maintaining it constantly (or fighting with your neighbor :)

So many questions... please post a pic.

I have a Cotinus Grace thriving in full sun in Georgia that is much larger than what you anticipate. I cut it back every other year or so and have coppiced it a time or two when it got really overgrown. I think you should put it midway between fence and patio and just see what happens.

This is the PNW and many things grow much larger here (and faster) than popular websites might indicate. 7' of depth to the fence is not nearly enough room for a 'Grace' cotinus that receives no serious pruning or coppicing. If you do plant there, center it in the space and then be prepared to take pruners in hand when the time comes.....as it will, sooner rather than later.

I also wouldn't worry excessively about "long shadows" :-) Have lived here all my life and long shadows tend not to be a concern during the growing season unless planted tight up against the north facade of a structure or under an overhang.

Gardengal, I guess you're lucky :) My family is still in Portland and they have issues with not having enough sun along a solid fence. I still hope the OP can clarify his post.

I am even further north than Portland but in summer, midday sunlight is still almost directly vertical overhead. Even a north facing fenceline (6' tall) in my garden receives plenty of sunlight during the bulk of the daylight hours.

here are photos of the WIP area in question. I'm facing south taking the photo, and it was taken at 9am this Dec morning so the sun is low in the sky. During growing season this spot gets blazing hot full sun, as the sun is high enough in the sky to avoid shadows from the 6' chain link fence with privacy slats. On the other side of the fence is a private acre of open urban farm land. Neighbor owns ands runs a small organic farm/garden. No obstructions or considerations there. The bamboo at the right of the frame has a maintenance trench and is being removed. So when all is said and done, it has all the lateral space in the world along that back fence line, and sunlight shouldn't be a problem, even with a 6' tall wall of star jasmine. The depth is the main consideration, I think. The fence angles slightly, so the right side of the patio (as we're looking at it now) is 8' from the fence line and the left side is 6' from it. The center is 7' away. And again, I'm good with the Grace overhanging the patio. Right now I have it 4.5' from the back fence. Thanks!!

Thanks for the pics -- the location looks better than I thought! I think Grace would look lovely there, overhanging the patio.

If you treat 'Grace' like a small tree and limb it up a bit as it grows, I don't see a problem with the space you have for it. I'd nudge it towards the fence for more room for plants underneath on the patio viewing side.

sounds good enough for me ... but i agree .. in a few years.. you will either be beating it back hard ... or removing it ...

you seem to think that size estimates are written in stone.. and plants simply stop growing at some magical size ... they dont ... especially shrubs.. and especially this family ... they are beasts ... and need to be taught lessons about who is in charge ...

and you will learn how to do that.. just like i did.. when i put one 5 feet from the house ... in a few years.. it was up over the eaves and many feet into the lawn ... oh well .. i moved.. lol ...

ken

Christopher... kinda sorta like these examples?

https://www.covingtonnursery.com/gardening/smoke-tree-grace/

https://images.app.goo.gl/XBvvcqWxhQrJzeYB8

Common smoke tree can easily grow much larger than that space in time and 'Grace' is half the even larger growing American smoke tree genetically with an attendant effect on its own size and vigor being evident. As far as ending up with it hanging over the pavement, pruning to force the specimen to stay within the available area or any other circumstances involving possible recurring contact with the foliage of this planting goes smoke trees contain a sap that can be an irritant. So I would seriously consider making another selection for this project.

That could be an issue for people irritated by sap. I've never had that problem and have been lathered in sap my entire life.

btw .. converting to the latin name.. provided by monrovia ... take a look at the older specimens at this link

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffcm&q=Cotinus+x+%27Grace%27&iax=images&ia=images

also note.. monrovia says it QUICKLY reaches 15 feet .. and with shrubs.. width is usually the same ... and it isnt going to stop there

https://www.monrovia.com/grace-smoke-tree.html

i think 7 feet is dreaming ... with no intent to prune ... but again.. good luck .. live and learn ..

ken

Grows like a weed in Seattle area.

Is there some reason 'Grace' can't be a small tree? How many people come here and want to plant a solid wall of GG Arborvitae in a situation like this to block the neighbors views? Calmer heads will suggest a small rounded tree for better long term and aesthetic results for a space just like this.

Is there a rule that Cotinus has to be hacked into a bush? If people are hacking it into bushes all the time there much be a lot of irritated people out there. All that sap you know.

Christopher, yes it absolutely can be limbed up to a small tree form. Maybe I just need to amend my original "I'm not going to prune" statement or omit it completely. Maybe limbing it up is the way to go here — it would reduce the heft of the plant down at ground level and create a nice little pocket / overhang on that end of the patio, while also giving room for smaller plants and groundcovers surrounding . I do enjoy the look of the limbed up Graces that I've seen.

They get massive. You can limb all you want, but it is still going to throw up shoots 10-15' in ONE season. Fall color is draw-dropping but this is one wild rangy and crazy plant.

thank you all for your thoughtful comments. i think i have a plan after hearing more about the massive size and vigorous growth: i think i might plant the Grace in another spot in the backyard -- the patio on the SW side of the yard needs a small tree and has much more room to accommodate it. i've been deciding what should go there, and now feel the Grace would be more appropriate. In this more compact spot, I think I'll find something else!

I don't see a lot of Cotinus here in NC. The few large nice looking ones I see are in the Acer palmatum height range. Massive and vigorous are not words I would use to describe them. The never pruned yellow leaved cultivar in my garden is 8' tall, upright, narrow and bloomless after a decade. Stunted is a word I would be more likely to associate with Cotinus. Location and climate obviously matter.

Here's an American smoke tree in Connecticut:

https://www.americanforests.org/big-trees/american-smoketree-cotinus-obovatus/

Makes me want to find a C. obovatus to plant.

Forest Farm usually has them. Or Gossler. Fall color is wonderful. And although a tree, not a shrub, it's easier to manage than it's wayward step-child!