{"product_id":"golden-spirit-smokebush","title":"Golden Spirit Smokebush","description":"\u003ch1\u003eGlowing Gold Foliage and Smoky Plumes on a Deer-Resistant Shrub\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGolden Spirit Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Ancot') lights up the garden with bright gold-to-chartreuse foliage all season, topped by the airy smoke-like plumes smokebush is known for, then finishes with a fiery coral, orange, and red fall display. It's a luminous alternative to the dark-leaved smokebushes. Whether you're brightening a sunny border in Edina, lighting up a foundation in Woodbury, or creating a glowing focal point in Maple Grove — Golden Spirit brings season-long color to zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGolden Spirit Smokebush Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCotinus coggygria 'Ancot'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmokebush, Smoke Tree, Golden Spirit Smokebush\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–8 feet (smaller with hard spring pruning)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–8 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — upright, rounded\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade. Gold is brightest in full sun; light afternoon shade prevents scorch in hot spots.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow to moderate. Drought-tolerant once established; dislikes wet feet.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — hardy here\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery adaptable — tolerates poor, dry, rocky Minnesota soils; prefers well-draining ground.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — bright gold to chartreuse all season, turning coral, orange, and red in fall.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -30°F. In the coldest winters it may die back, then rebound on new growth.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer-resistant — a good choice for high-pressure areas.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAiry, smoke-like plumes in summer above the gold foliage.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGolden Spirit Smokebush Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBright foliage contrast\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe glowing gold leaves are a brilliant foil for dark-leaved or richly colored plants — a luminous accent in a sunny border in Edina or Plymouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFocal point and fall color\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGold all summer and coral-orange in fall, it carries a long season of color as a specimen or foundation anchor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough, deer-resistant sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrought-tolerant and deer-resistant, it brings bright color to hot, dry spots; give it light afternoon shade in the hottest sites to prevent leaf scorch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Golden Spirit Smokebush in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFall (late August–early October) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before ground freeze (typically mid-November in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws) is the second-best window, giving the shrub a full season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid summer planting (June–August) when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Golden Spirit Smokebush\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose a sunny, well-drained spot for the brightest gold; give light afternoon shade in the hottest sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with some compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace 5–6 feet apart for a grouping; give it room to round out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a water basin the first season; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark, kept off the stems. Cut back hard in early spring for the largest, brightest leaves (at the cost of some plumes).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Golden Spirit Smokebush in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 4–5 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 7 days or less; it tolerates dry conditions well\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished smokebush is drought-tolerant and needs water only during extended dry spells. It prefers lean, well-drained conditions over rich, wet soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf used, place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk; it needs less water than most shrubs. Always winterize the system — blow out the lines before freeze and shut timers off by early October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the gold leaves scorch?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the hottest, driest, full-sun spots the gold foliage can scorch; a bit of afternoon shade and steady moisture keep it fresh while still bright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I keep it gold and small?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA hard spring cutback produces the largest, brightest gold leaves on a more compact plant (with fewer smoke plumes).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — smokebush is generally passed over by deer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's hardy to about zone 4. In the coldest winters it may die back, then rebound on new growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoyal Purple Smokebush — the classic dark-purple smokebush for contrast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrace Smokebush — a large hybrid with huge plumes and brilliant fall color\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Golden Spirit Smokebush Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor an informal grouping or loose property-line screen, space Golden Spirit about 6 feet on center — the body's own 5–6 ft grouping spacing, sized to its 5–8 ft mature width.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (6 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost yards only need one: as a focal point, give it a clear 7–8 ft circle. A pair flanking a dark-leaved smokebush makes a dramatic gold-purple-gold trio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGolden Spirit Smokebush Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves emerge bright chartreuse-gold — if you cut it back hard in April, the regrowth pushes the largest, most luminous foliage of all.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Glowing gold leaves all season, topped by airy, smoke-like plumes that drift above the foliage on unpruned plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The headline act — foliage ignites in coral, orange, and red, one of the best fall shows of any gold-leaf shrub.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e An upright, rounded twiggy frame; in the coldest zone-4 winters some tips may die back, but it rebounds vigorously on new growth with a spring cutback.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/royal-purple-smokebush\"\u003eRoyal Purple Smokebush\u003c\/a\u003e — the body's own pairing; deep purple against glowing gold is the classic smokebush contrast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/grace-smokebush\"\u003eGrace Smokebush\u003c\/a\u003e — a larger hybrid with huge pink plumes to anchor the back of the border.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/winecraft-black-smokebush\"\u003eWinecraft Black Smokebush\u003c\/a\u003e — near-black compact foliage that makes Golden Spirit look lit from within.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/karl-foerster-feather-reed-grass\"\u003eKarl Foerster Feather Reed Grass\u003c\/a\u003e — vertical wheat-gold plumes that echo the smokebush's airy texture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Golden Spirit Smokebush Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's right for a sunny, well-drained spot — even poor, dry, rocky soil — where you want a 6–8 ft gold focal point that deer ignore and drought doesn't faze. It's not a fit for low, wet ground (it hates wet feet), and in the hottest all-day-sun spots without any afternoon relief the gold foliage can scorch; expect occasional tip die-back after the harshest zone-4 winters.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#3 Gallon","offer_id":54309979521329,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/golden-spirit-smokebush.jpg?v=1779567572","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/golden-spirit-smokebush","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}