So similar to the original poster "waas" I am in search of a hardy - full sun (west side of my home noon-8 =/- full sun a day, zone 6), strong wind at times (I do however do winter protection for the winter). I bought my home about a year ago and it looks like it will probably be next summer before I get the retaining walls replaced (currently railroad tie looking). I have a very steep yard with 3 terraces below the main backyard and the 4th and larger bottom terrace that leads to the lake. So the main back yard is starting to sink the last 2-3' of lawn that's by the 1st dropoff for the terrace below. I'm thinking I could rip out that 2-3' section (by 80' long probably) of sloped grass that is my constant headache to mow at an angle and add a border of paniculata hydrangeas to keep my 3 year old son and his friends away from the edge and to remove the need to mow that sloped grass strip. I don't want to block the view of the lake from the bottom floor windows so I'm thinking a border of dwarf (2-3 or maybe 3.5' tall)- So it's looking like my choices are bobo, little lime or dart's little dot and I want to throw ruby slippers into the ring even though she's not a pan. thoughts, suggestions, recomendations? Help appreciated :-) amy in Utah Here is a link that might be useful: link on paniculata hardiness

How about a hydrangea paniculata standard? That would compliment the hydrangea bushes you already have. Are you sure you want to plant anything in that spot with snow piling on in winter? You might have the same problem with snow breaking branches on any small bush/tree. Perhaps move tree/bush to other side? For other seasons' height you could put an obelisk there and plant a couple of type 3 clematis. Some viticellas bloom all summer/fall ie 'Madame Julia de Correvon'. 'Betty Corning' has smaller flowers with a light fragrance (rare for clematis). I cut my type 3 clematis back to the ground after foliage dies back from frost. The obelisk could be kept in place for winter sculpture or removed and replaced in the spring. Or, you could place a large ceramic container there which matches your shutter color and swap out plants for spring/summer/fall/ winter interest. Or a grouping of several pots in different sizes. Knowing what is growing in the raised bed would be helpful.

The standards that I have seen (so far) in plant nurseries here in the States are not grafted. The wholesalers select from amongst all the stems, one that is particularly straight and develop it and cut down all the way the ones which they do not want to develop as a leader trunk. However, I have seen paniculatas for sale in Canada that are grafted. Not sure if it is to put super duper big extra winter hardy roots or what. I contacted the wholesaler but failed to get a response to my question of why they (the wholesaler) were doing that. Basically, over here, paniculata owners who do tree paniculata forms will evaluate the new/old growth each year and cut off those stems that they do not want to use as a main trunk and leave a handful that appear as good choices/candidates. With each passing Spring, less stems are left until one single stem remains as the main trunk. I think hyed has a nice Vanilla Strawberry Tree that -I think- he "developed" himself (not sure if hyed is a 'he' or 'she'; defaulted to 'he'; sorry if this wrong hyed!).

Haven't seen labels even in winter. Yes, the fragrance was obvious when I approached to photograph the flowers. Usually honeybees are not prevalent in a parking lot being isolated from nature. The flowers are so large I felt someone would recognize it. I never see anyone maintaining these plants so they must be tough! It's been about three years or more since they were planted.