My v. doublefile 'Shasta' was planted from a 3-ga. nursery pot in spring '04. This picture was taken Memorial Day weekend '09. It bloomed sparsely its first couple years in the ground but has been reliable since. How was your weather last year? Did the shrub receive adequate moisture last summer & fall? How about exposure? Mine is located in full sun...but, we're on the coast with a constant marine layer so full sun here is less intense than inland. Buds for this year's flowers were set last summer so that's where I'd look for this spring's lack of flowers.

There are several large, mature plantings of maresii doublefiles here on Cape Cod that have bloomed twice! The most recent bloom is far less complete than the spring bloom, but substantial nonetheless. These are plants that are at least 10' x 10' specimens.

Yesterday I told my neighbour I was looking for a Doublefile Viburnum and, voila, she pointed me to some seedlings that were sprouting under her beautiful specimen. Serendipity. I'd still be interested in a cutting exchange if anyone would like to trade for the red-leaf hibiscus.

I have had one for about 12 years in clay and a pH of 7.5ish and it is doing fine. tj