In the 1980's Linden Viburnum was the "must have" shrub in the capital area because of the pretty berries it produced. The Nat'l Arboretum introduced cultivars. Sadly today, it is an incredible weed pest in the Arboretum's understory second only to Morrow's Honeysuckle. Americorp Volunteers are trying to remove them by hand. The Virginia Native Plant Society and the Student Conservation Assn are sponsoring an invasive removal of Linden Viburnum in Turkey Run Park nr McClean VA. If you are able come out on Saturday, July 9 from 10 to 1. Volunteers will cut the shrubs and a staffer from the Nature Conservance will paint stumps with herbicide. We will meet at the Police Headquarters at McClean and carpool to the site. Prolific fruit production of Linden Viburnum has put this specie's invasiveness on par with shrub honeysuckles and Elaeagnus spp. Well meaning gardeners have planted it with the idea that it is good for wildlife. It is a matter of time before Linden Viburnum invades natural areas in other parts of the country. Sam

Here you are try these out - Thanks! http://www.fototime.com/%7B9C0D6F80-6ECC-4877-A7B1-60653598549D%7D/origpict/image.jpeg http://www.fototime.com/%7BEEE6F315-3B24-43A9-8D5A-8C8890E4B2F5%7D/origpict/image%2520%282%29.jpeg http://www.fototime.com/%7BEDBA7439-BEEC-4412-9256-F3D400EFAD0A%7D/origpict/image%2520%281%29.jpeg

lol, James I just posted to your ninebark thread and asked if it were you that had the great deck with the iteas planted there. Then I scroll down through the threads and see this one updated lol - and yes, it WAS you with the great deck! It seems this past winter was rough on a lot of things. Lots of OLD (decades old!) rhodies are half gone, and arborvitaes in the area looking pretty rough too. Actually, perhaps it was more like SPRING damage. In my garden upon early inspection, there were a lot of dead buds on a lot of things - hydrangeas, redbuds, buddleia. Too bad, as things would be in a lot better shape except for probably a day or two of sudden temperature plunges. Your iteas look good thought and I am sure they will fill in nicely. Toronto if you read through this thread you can see my post on planting iteas in a VERY wet area in part shade. I don't know the technical definition of a swamp but this garden has standing water for months at a time, and I have lost a boot or two in the mud lol! Probably about half sun, half shade. Had Henry's Garnets planted here that grew to more than expectations. Color was probably not what it could be in more sun, but still had nice deep purplish-red foliage. Blooms may have been a bit fewer too, but considering the needs of this garden I was very pleased with my results. :) Dee

In answer to your last question: yes. Viburnum odoratissimum var. arboricola in Flora of China @ efloras.org Otherwise, apart from the overly frequent (and weedy) English and Portugal laurels, the main ones seen in the area are the (also overplanted) Magnolia grandiflora and the disease susceptible Arbutus species, including the native madrona. Plus, lots of large photinias, but the predominant hybrid variety has become useless due to leaf spot disease(s) having made it here from elsewhere in the country. In addition, there are hollies on the market other than the weedy and leaf problem susceptible Ilex aquifolium. And of course, camellias and rhododendrons - if you have decades to wait for these to size up. (A Camellia japonica 'Cheerful' in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle was 33 ft. tall when competently measured a few years ago). Also, if still present a tree sized Osmanthus heterophyllus is known from West Seattle. With this kind also notable for not being bothered by the 1990 winter, unlike many other broad-leaved evergreens in the area. But, again, we are talking about a wait of decades before a new planting of this becomes any version of tree sized. Finally, with the increasing burden on regional water supplies being imposed by an exploding human population (due to millions moving here from elsewhere) you might think about western North American, primarily California origin drought adapted broadleaf evergreens like evergreen oaks and Arctostaphylos manzanita.