Opposite arrangement means NOT Fothergilla sp.

This is likely Viburnum plicatum, albeit a very unhappily growing (?) individual. As noted above, it could be planted too deeply initially. It also may have been container grown too long, which then developed an encircling root system that is slowly strangling the original plant crown. Subsequent adventitious stems breaking from dormant crown buds are showing normal size, color, and growth pattern of leaves contrasted against the stressed/declining yellowish foliage on the original stems.

This type of Viburnum comes in two general flavors:

• Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum: Japanese Snowball Viburnum, with "snowball" blooms (predominantly sterile florets/bracts) which are scentless and with no fertile flower parts - therefore fruitless.

• Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum: Japanese Doublefile Viburnum, with "lacecap" blooms marching double file down the branches, with fertile flowers in the center of the bloom surrounded by showy bracts/florets. When properly pollinated, this species will present blindingly showy red fruits on the bright red peduncles which humans appreciate and birds devour as they ripen in summer.

Depending on where you garden...the snowball form is grown more often in northerly conditions (somewhat more hardy), whereas the lacecap form ranges across mid south and southern states. It has begun to make the invasive species lists in the mid Atlantic growing regions.

There are many named selections in both forms of this plant.