Cotinus blooms on year old wood so you probably are cutting off the buds. A lot of people will sacrifice bloom in order to stimulate foliage growth. I let mine bloom the past year or two just to see what it was like but will be cutting it back hard this year.

This spring 2011 - April, I planted a Golden Spirit Smoke bush / tree. It is 3 feet tall and did NOT bloom. I did not prune it at all. Three questions: 1) Does it have to reach a certain age before it starts to bloom 2) Can I prune off the bottom branches to make it appear like more of a tree than a bush. Such as I have done with Sumac, making it appear like a palm tree of sorts. 3) Is it ok to plant spring bulbs around it. Thanks.

I have had a gorgeous specimen of a smoke bush for over 12 years and have NEVER seem blooms. I have only trimmed it 8 years ago. Why am I not getting pretty pink flowers? It is in full sun.