I am in zone 4 Montana and constantly push limits with zone 5 plants. I have had only a few others which also survived but didn't flower. I tried Oakleaf Hydrangea and had the same results - survived but didn't flower. I grow Viburnum carlesii which is usually listed as zone 5. It blooms beautifully. I have had it for 8 years. If I had room for a Double File I would try it in a heartbeat because I have great success with Zone 5 plants. I think nurseries are conservative in their estimates regarding zones. If I see zone 5, I order. We can have some awful winters here - definitely Zone 4. I now indicate I am from zone 4b (warm zone 4) because I have had such good luck from nominally zone 5 plants. I would very definitely think you have a good chance Doublefile viburnum would survive in southwest Wisconsin which I would expect is significantly warmer than where I live. Some of the "zone 5" plants I grow are Buddleiea, Clethra, Fothergilla and Hamamalis (Witch Hazel). I hope you do try it. I'd love to find out if it works for you if you end up trying it out.

If the shrub has one primary trunk or stem, you could but you will be losing much of the appeal of the plant by limbing it up. The primary attraction of a doublefile viburnum, aside from flowering, is its very widely horizontal branching structure. Personally, I think it would look rather peculiar to see this carried high above the ground on a clear stem rather than the lower branches sweeping the ground as is their habit. BTW, your tag information was very inaccurate - most doublefiles will easily reach a height of 8-10' with a slightly wider (9-12') spread. My suggestion would be to relocate it to a position where it can assume its full stature and spread without hinderance.

No, they are at Fairfield Gardens in Fairfield right on 46 West. No appt nec. Good pickings right now as they just came in. Look under the pavillion on the left side away from the building. The plants I bought are about 30" and well branched out, each with 3 main stems and a few flowers. April Dawn was a little smaller and thinner than the plants I got but still bigger than the ones I saw at the Fairweather Gardens open house. The April Dawn I almost bought at Fairweather was a total of two stem, no branches but it was cheaper too. Obviously I haven't successfully grown camellias yet but I understand they require much the same as azaleas and rhodies. Winter shade and protection is always stressed to protect from winterburn and desiccation.

Hello all, nice to be back. With all the activity going around, I guess I should also launch the other thread of "What happened in your garden this week". I'll start it on Monday. I am still doing my spring cleaning, or should I say.... my fall cleaning. But it's going well, I still have the upper hand on my garden! I haven't seen my iris reticulata yet, which is a bit of a surprise. Things are warming up very slowly, I guess it's the same for all of us. I hope no one ate them.... and my rose "Marechal Niel" is also in bloom but that's inside, so of course it's cheating... Best Belle Isis