What a strange shrub!

Hello,
Last week I saw this strange shrub (approx. 8 foot tall) in a garden here in Rome.
Anyone knows what it is?
Thank you.

 

Do they have any really tall sheep in Rome ?

 

I poked it... but it made no "baaaah"

 

It looks like candyfloss!

 

Hi Noe and welcome to GC.

Having lived in cotton-growing country for 14 years, I immediately thought of ... cotton! Could be something from that family...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossypium_arboreum

 

could it be Fothergilla ?

 

Poodle-Bush

 

Ok, I think it is not Poodle-Bush nor Fothergilla.
Even without looking for a care label I would say that it is not cotton and, believe it or not, it doesn't taste like Candyfloss!

In another forum I was told it might be "Cotinus coggygria", also known as Smoke-Tree: this identification is likely to be the correct one and I find the name really appropriate.

Smoke-Tree... really a strange shrub. :-)

 

Looks like a white-flowered cotinus to me. There is one called "Young Lady" (Yeuch!!) Apparently. If you believe the internet.

 

Could possibly be a Cotinus, but not really sure and stand by my Cotton.

 

IT IS Smoke Bush. Cotinus coggygria.

 

Well, Dai is ALWAYS correct so I back down.

 

Thank you very much, I'm quite convinced it's cotinus and not cottonus

 

Vicky, you are learning.

 

I know, I know ... xx