{"product_id":"winecraft-black-smokebush","title":"Winecraft Black Smokebush","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDeep Purple-Black Foliage and Smoky Plumes on a Compact Shrub\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinecraft Black Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria 'NCCO1') brings dramatic color in a tidy package — new growth emerges vivid purple, matures to a deep near-black, and is topped in summer by the airy, smoke-like flower plumes that give smokebush its name. Fall ignites the foliage in red and orange. Compact and tough, it's a bold accent that stays in scale. Whether you're adding contrast to a sunny border in Edina, anchoring a foundation in Woodbury, or creating a focal point in Maple Grove — Winecraft Black delivers season-long drama to zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWinecraft Black 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 'NCCO1'\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, Winecraft Black 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\u003e4–6 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–6 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 — compact, rounded habit\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. Full sun gives the darkest foliage and best color.\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 and clay-loam; 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 — vivid purple new growth maturing to deep near-black; fiery red-orange 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 somewhat, 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 flower plumes in summer above the dark foliage.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWinecraft Black Smokebush Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoliage drama and contrast\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe near-black leaves are a striking foil for bright flowers and silver or gold foliage — a sophisticated accent in a sunny border in Edina or Plymouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCompact focal point\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike full-size smokebush, Winecraft Black stays a tidy 4–6 feet, making it a manageable focal point for a foundation or mixed border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough, deer-resistant sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrought-tolerant and deer-resistant, it performs in hot, dry, poor-soil spots where you want bold color without fuss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Winecraft Black 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 Winecraft Black 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\u003eSpace 4–5 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. Prune in early spring if desired — a hard cutback yields the largest, darkest leaves (at the cost of some smoke plumes).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Winecraft Black 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\u003eDoes the foliage stay dark all season?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — new growth is vivid purple and matures to a deep near-black, holding its color through the season, darkest in full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy isn't it making 'smoke'?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe smoky plumes form on older wood, so a hard spring pruning for the biggest leaves reduces them. For more smoke, prune lightly; for boldest foliage, cut back hard.\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 somewhat, then rebound vigorously on new growth in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoyal Purple Smokebush — a larger purple-leaved smokebush\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEclipse Hydrangea — another dark-foliage shrub for bold contrast\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":"#3 Gallon","offer_id":54312779678001,"sku":null,"price":43.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/winecraft-black-smokebush.jpg?v=1779567570","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/winecraft-black-smokebush","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}