I did notice with my two new plants (that are planted into the same garden with full sun) that the tallest stems are on those that were left the longest before being pruned so they could branch into two stems. This being done by the grower, not me. Both were purchased from the same nursery side by side within a month this spring/summer, then planted into the same flower bed with the same full sun conditions. Compare where the initial pruning cuts were made by the grower on the first bobo compared to the second and you'll see what I'm talking about. The first two photos are of the one planted first. I suppose I choose it at full price because it was nice and compact. notice that the initial pruning cuts by the grower are only about 6 inches from the ground and how each stem branches from that point. Every branch has a crotch very low to the ground. Now the second boboIt almost looks like it must be a different variety. And now let's see the initial grower pruning cuts from the back of the plant.Notice on the left side of the photo that the very tallest branches come from the one that has the crotch about 10 or 12 inches above the ground compared to the one next to it that branches perhaps 4 inches above the ground. The majority of these branches are much taller at the point where the grower initially pruned them. I think the second from the left was pruned one of the shortest - yet that's the average pruning height on the first pictured bobo. (compare the photos) So now I'm thinking aabout the real floppy ones I saw at the other nursery. I think that this sort of growers pruning close to the ground to enable multiple blooms was simply not done and that that each of these canes came up as a single straight stem. Then each stem/branch put all it's energy into one bloom head made the stems taller and the flower heads huge and floppy unlike anything in my photos - thank heavens.

Oh good! I'm beginning to worry about mine. I planted a few three years ago, , two died of a weird fungus. I moved the third to a different location but it didn't bloom that year. This year it looks great but no buds yet that I can see. Zone 6b.

EDIT: I TOTALLY MISSED THAT YOU'D SPECIFIED ZONE 4 - MY APOLOGIES, there are a few Zone 5's I suggested. You don't mention light requirements but here are some evergreen shrubs to consider: ZONE 5-9 Wee Willie Boxwood - 2' x 2' ZONE 3-7 Anna's Magic Ball Arborvitae - 10" - 15" tall and wide ZONE 3- 7 Tater Tot Arborvitae - 12" - 24" tall and wide ZONE 5 - 8 Fire Chief Arborvitae 2" tall and wide in 10 years; 4' tall and wide at maturity ZONE 3 - 6 Dwarf Norway Spruce - 4' wide and 18 - 24" tall after 10 years ZONES 2-7 Carstens Wintergold Mugo Pine 1 - 2' tall and slightly wider after 10 years NOT AN EVERGREEN BUT GOOD WINTER INTEREST ZONE 2-8 Kelsey's Dwarf Red-Osier Dogwood 24 - 30" tall and wide Here it is in summer . . . And in the winter

I say not enough love for BOBOs! Our very established BOBOs are doing well but not as floriferous as I have seen in previous years and not nearly as 'blossomy' as I see with @chrysalids...well done. (I am attributing the less flowers to this much drier summer). Here are ours today: