I returned it. The nursery was very pleasant and said they were thinking of not carrying it anymore despite it's popularity because it did seem to be getting invasive. (Which I appreciate in a nursery.) The spot is difficult because it's on the north side of the house on a slope. So it gets full sun in the summer but deep shade from fall to spring. It's also mostly a dry spot since it is protected from the worst of storms and the water runs off fairly quickly. It WAS a spot that got a little soggy after a big rain (or a lot of it) but I think and hope I have corrected the drainage and erosion issues upslope. Planting this bed and mulching deeply should help slow down the water running off a little. Since I had already decided to baby a Japanese maple in that bed as the showpiece (a Tamukeyama), I replaced the mahonia with another maple (a Red Dragon). Both cultivars are supposed to be able to take more sun than most. And they should compliment each other with similar but different leaves and colors. One spreads and is taller, the other mounds and weeps and is shorter. I don't baby many plants... but I think Japanese maples are worth the extra effort. Okay, I have about a thousand more plants to get in the ground and I've asked a hundred questions here on this landscaping project so I promise in-progress pictures soon.

Hi Ralph -- You're here in NC for good--yay! I will keep the hibiscus in position for a bit, then I can dig when you're ready for it. I'm hoping in the next two-three weeks. Could be I could leave it in place until the April 29 place and bring it then, if you plan to attend. You are also welcome to hostas and goldenrod. I'll go ahead and pot up some of the GR roots, now that I know someone wants it. I'm definitely interested in the brug. What color is it? Also, which trilliums do you have? I have cuneatum that are blooming now. Last year you traded me a black EE. I left it in the ground, though I was advised it might not be hardy enough. And I also left an Illustris out because i was told they hang on pretty well through the winter. Whaddya think about the black one? If it doesn't come back, and you have a root to spare, I'd be happy for another. It was one of my faves in the garden last year. Really gorgeous, though I put it too close to the front of the border. You'd think I'd have been industrious enough to dig it up for winter, but things got away from me!

I'm back to looking for this again. It's sometimes listed as Berberis fremontii, too. The Arboretum Plant Sale didn't have any: seeds didn't germinate (The person growing the really interesting dryland plants apparently doesn't realize that some things need cold stratification, scarification, giberellic acid treatment and/or a couple years outside to germinate).

if they look like that in fall ... and are black and dead in spring ... then IMHO ... its a winter cold issue...and if winter kill flower buds.. then it isnt surprising you havent seen flowers .... in my z5... its simply too cold in MI ... for it to be a disease issue over winter... not quite sure how that works in your z6 ... but i raise the issue so others can address it ... ken