So here’s a lesson for me, as a fledgling landscaper: The client initially maintenance-free shrubs, so I installed maintenance-free. Then he said he wanted color, as in colored flowers, and walked me to a neighbor’s yard which had Crimpson Pigmy Barberry, which has red leaves, not flowers. So now, 5 months later, I understand he has no idea. So I am redrawing my plan with red-leafed shrubs. There’s always something.
Man, I HATE Barberry! So glad they’re now on the ‘Invasive’ list in Wisconsin.
Beau’s wife (deceased) had planted Red Barberry all across the south-facing front of the house. Supposedly, it kept her 90-gazillion cats from hanging out there in the sun.
About a year after I moved here, we had a WONDERFUL patch of wet weather, and Beau said, ‘I think NOW is your chance to get rid of those Barberry!’ So he hooked chains to them and yanked them all out with the skid steer, and they went straight to the brush pile.
Nicest thing he’s ever done for me! :)
I now have the smaller version of Viburnum there, interspersed with clumps of Karl Foerster Grass and lots of heat-seeking Sedum in front of those, in a number of colors, mostly maroons. Looks great and is colorful all season long. :)