The only upkeep I do is to trim off the dead flowers at the end of the season and trim out the little bit of dead wood each spring. If you look at my photo from last August you will see what my Little Lamb looks like. That is pretty much what it looked like later in the season. This season is might be slightly larger, but there is no sign it will be floppy. I may have just purchased a very mature shrub. It doesn't lay on the ground the way people describe. I believe I planted it summer of 2008, but it was a fairly large plant (although I recall it had almost no roots, I was actually worried it wouldn't make it), so it isn't *really* just 3 years old. I actually mis-purchased...I wanted something that would get large for that corner (like Tardiva), but I'm happy with it. If you want floppy, you should see my Swan.

Thanks ditas and ostrich: I'm sure you're right and that the shrub is fine. I'm probably comparing it to others that seemed to grow faster, almost like a weed is my butterfly bush growing newly planted, and the Little Lamb never acted like it was taking off nor looking suddenly vitalized by acclimation. It's got buds all over it though. My little yard is a part of a major renovation project, the whole house inside and out, and after four summers when the yard has been on hold for outside construction, I've now gotten garden beds cut and mulched all around and the yard is like a blank palate ready for it's new identity. Choosing the shurbs and planting them of course starts this process; and I also have moved a second time two of my new plant friends as the design develops which is also centered around optimal light conditions for each shrub. I have so far: Hishiki willow bush and lilac both well developed over two years now, and the new entries last month were: glossy leaf abelia, itea - little henry, and the little lamb, and the purple butterfly bush. I'm really enjoying this yardventure and seeing how each shrub leads the development of the design...... Thanks for listening and have a nice 4th weekend..,,

Ditas, I am so happy to see this. I had read your previous thread and decided against buying LL bc of your struggle. I purchase 3 Pinkie Winkie instead. Now that my plants are blooming I realise I have 3 LL and NOT Pinkie Winkie. Lost the receipts so it looks like I'm keeping them. I need to move them bc the spot isn't right so I was thinking of placing them in a bed that is above a 3ft tall natural stone retaining wall. Right now the bed has river rock covering it and a bench but I will remove the rock and amend the soil. I figure that if the LL's do droop they will hang over the wall and still be ok. I love the way yours are looking now. Can you tell me exactly what you did this year to make them so well behaved? Do you think they will be ok in a full sun bed right next to a stone wall? Will it be too hot? Thanks in advance. Laura. I didn't s

Yes, it could be a factor, although creosote tends not leach heavily or travel far in the soil. The leaf deformity showing is a pretty classic symptom of chemical damage. Has any herbicide been used in the area? Weed 'n feed? A spray of some sort? (even in your neighbor's yard as drift with sprays is extremely common).