I had a smoke tree for 3 years and it never smoked. Of course, the first winter one of them was in the ground my golden retriever ran into it & broke it down to the ground. Came back the next year and was over 5' tall by the end of the summer. I saw that they were never gonna be a nice bushy plant, but rather leggy, so I dug 'em both up & gave 'em to a friend who had 5 acres of blank field. Dunno if they survived for her.. she wasn't ever very prompt in putting things in the ground.
My minibed is a total riot of colors. Actually, most of my yard is a total riot of colors (when it's not fried to a crisp). I love it. :D