The proper way to prune your Weigela is to prune out dead wood to the ground each year during winter or very early spring. It can be renewal pruned (or you can do this to control size too), by cutting approximately 1/3 of the branches to the ground each year. That way, your shrub will always be fresh, strong, and graceful. Do not cut back stems in the middle of the stem. The plant will respond with several new stems that start at the cut point and will make it look ungainly and awkward. This weigela makes an arching, almost fountain form about 4 to 5 feet high and wide in my garden. It's one of my favorites because the foliage seems to complement almost anything planted in front of it. Nearly any variegated plant will throw all green stems occasionally. You should remove them, because they are more vigorous than the variegations and can eventually take the whole plant. Also, your shrub will appreciate an inch or two of compost or composted manure spread around its base every year, or whenever you get around to it.

It's the Double Bridal Wreath Spiraea! It is different than simply Bridal Wreath Spiraea in that the flowers have more petals. And interestingly, one site even mentioned, "Is not native, but has been used since pre-civil war times around houses in the south. A poor spirea that has a good name. Needs to be kept pruned to look good." This gives me an idea both how old the remains of the house might be that it is next to, and also how to try and get it blooming and healthy again! Thanks for the help, esh_ga! After about five years I finally know what the shrub is! :) Now I just need to figure out a way to transplant it without killing it... Here is a link that might be useful: More Info

Right, as Sue said, it just isn't vigorous and has been tough to propogate. I got very interesting comment on it from Jed from Olivers (who as you might know is willing to offer you ANYTING new and unusual even if it is marginally hardy for z6b). When I ask him about LH he said that even his best grower on Long Island can't produce decent looking (read saleable) plants for two years. Rate of mortality in a first year in nursery conditions is over 30%, in ground almost twice as much. So far nobody knows why it is thriving on West Coast while being a problem on East one. Reminds me of a polemonium 'Brise'd Anjou' story.

I'd say it is exactly an Asian/White Mulberry - Morus alba - brought by a bird dropping. The orangey roots and those little stubby side branches fit the thousands I've encountered where this invasive exotic plagues natural areas around the Ohio River valley region. Alexzandra could post a picture of the seedlings experienced - leaves or not - and as long as you provide a clear closeup of the dormant buds along the stem, we should be able to positively ID it even before it leafs out.