{"product_id":"royal-purple-smokebush","title":"Royal Purple Smokebush","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDeep Purple-Maroon Foliage and Smoky Plumes on a Bold Specimen Shrub\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoyal Purple Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple') is the classic dark smokebush — rich, deep purple-maroon leaves all season, topped by airy, smoke-like purple-pink flower plumes in summer, finishing with brilliant red fall color. Large and dramatic, it makes a knockout specimen or backdrop. Whether you're anchoring a sunny border in Edina, creating a focal point in Woodbury, or building a bold-color screen in Maple Grove — Royal Purple brings season-long drama to zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRoyal Purple 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 'Royal Purple'\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, Royal Purple 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\u003e8–12 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\u003e8–12 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 to fast — large, 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. Best foliage color and bloom in full sun.\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 — deep purple-maroon all season, turning brilliant 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 vigorous 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 purple-pink plumes in summer above the dark foliage.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRoyal Purple Smokebush Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecimen and bold backdrop\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts size and rich color make Royal Purple a commanding specimen or a dark backdrop that sets off lighter flowers and foliage in a sunny border in Edina or Plymouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eScreens and large borders\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeft unpruned it forms a substantial screen; a hard spring cutback keeps it shrubby with extra-large, dark leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough, deer-resistant sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrought-tolerant and deer-resistant, it thrives in hot, dry, poor-soil spots where you want big color without fuss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Royal Purple 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 Royal Purple 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 darkest foliage; it tolerates poor, dry soil but dislikes soggy ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with some compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive it room — 8–12 feet — as a specimen, or plan to prune for a smaller shrub.\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. For the biggest, darkest leaves, cut back hard in early spring (at the cost of some smoke plumes).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Royal Purple 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\u003eHow big does Royal Purple get?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnpruned it can reach 8–12 feet as a large shrub or small tree; a hard spring cutback keeps it 4–6 feet with bigger, darker leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I get more 'smoke'?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe smoky plumes form on older wood, so prune lightly for more smoke or cut back hard for boldest foliage — you trade one for the other.\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, most open winters it may die back, then rebound vigorously on new growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWinecraft Black Smokebush — a compact, near-black smokebush for smaller spaces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrace Smokebush — a large hybrid with soft purple-red leaves and huge plumes\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","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54312778760497,"sku":null,"price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/royal-purple-smokebush.jpg?v=1779567572","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/royal-purple-smokebush","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}