And once the shrub is in full bloom, it is an absolute bee magnet:
And if you get closer to the computer screen, I swear to God, you can smell the clove-like awesomeness:
Some other tidbits for your reading pleasure:
- Survives zones 3-9
- Typical size is a compact 3′ x 3′
- Works well for me in full sun but can also bloom in abundance in almost full shade
- Adapts to most soil types including my aforementioned wet clay
- I’ve noticed it has become a staple of many commercial landscapes in my area which would lead one to believe they are quite low maintenance
By mid to late August, the blooms transform to brown seed capsules and stay that way all through the Winter giving the shrub just a bit more interest:
Contrary to what has been written about this shrub, I have yet to see any great fall color. It is “decent” at best:
But that’s OK, I can live with that.
Oh yeah, back to my original point at the beginning of this post. Why I own only one of these is beyond me. They beg to be massed and that is my plan for this year. Add a bunch more and get some serious impact out of it. Enough of the onesies and twosies; let’s do this right.
On top of that, these shrubs are known to “sucker” so a few can go a long way.
May the spring come soon before I forget all of my good ideas.
John
