Shrub 1 looks like Ilex crenata, Japanese Holly. I'm a much better identifier than I am a gardener, but my impression is that these hollies are pretty tough; if you sheared it back it might make a regrowth and look better. On the other hand, if you pull it out you're not losing anything rare. What you see is what you'll get; the flowers are inconspicuous and the fruits are little black berries, not showy. A healthy Japanese holly is a pretty plant, though. Shrub 2 is a Leucothoe, probably Leucothoea fontanesiana, it will have drooping clusters of white flowers in the spring. My guess would be that the black spots are just winter damage and will go away. Shrub 3 is Wintercreeper, Euonymus fortunei. This thing is practically a weed (it is a weed in a lot of areas.) There are loads of different varieties of different colors, etc. If the old growth is in a bad place prune it, if it isn't leave it; this plant probably won't care what you do to it. WW

Fringetree, Chionanthus is the genus name. There is a native one (Chionanthus virginicus) and a chinese one. And a pygmy one: Chionanthus pygmaeus.

yeah .. there are some dwarfs ... but not knowing.. i would site for the monster.. and move it later if it ends up dwarf ... after next springs growth.. you might get an idea of which.. depending on it spring growth ... annual growth rate.. but for the pot... usually defines mature height... as most tags list size at 10 years ... except for being abused in the pot.. and perhaps hyper-fert'd ... if it grows a foot next spring.. its PROBABLY the large one.. if half or so.. the dwarf ... the better test would be if it is in mother earth.. and not fert'd at planting.. to find out .. regardless... its a flowering shrubs ... and can be size managed thru rejuvenation pruning ... but not haircuts .... just dont plant it ON the foundation ... min 5 feet from such.. IMHO ... see you in the shrub forum for more guidance.. should you wish such ... but they are not going to be able to name it.. before it flowers ... ken

You are beyond awesome, texasflip!!! I've been using your list to do some research into these different types. You've saved me a year of wondering what to expect from each unknown species. I can now start developing an overall gardening plan for my property, and am better able to decide what to keep and what to replace. Since I bought the place, the largest Photinia turned completely brown and looks dead, so now I've figured out it might be fungus not drought. Better get me some antifungal stuff for it... I have a lot of Photinias, so I'm thrilled to find out they are a flowering shrub. I just read how big hackberries can get, and I don't want full size trees right up on my fence or under my soffits, where they are currently. Therefore, I'll be giving them the boot. It also makes me realize that even though it's so much taller, tree #5 is probably also a hackberry. Not enamored of the Nandina; I'll have enough red berries with the pyracantha, and no flowering to look forward to. I have them by my garage and around 2 bedroom windows. I'd prefer thorny things near the bedrooms, and taller things to draw attention away from my electric meter and circuit box. They look decent though, so as I find other things to put in my flowerbeds, I'll probably move the ones by the bedrooms to a rental property which could use some more shrubbery. The name "Box Elder" rang a bell; that is what the house inspector told me tree #4 is. If so-called shrub #9 is going to get the size of tree #4, I'll want to move or cut that out too.