For those unfamiliar with this gorgeous shrub which can be grown in Zones 4-8:
https://www.naturehills.com/false-cypress-japanese-lemon-thread
Red twig dogwoods + Japanese false cypress (lemon thread) = awesome
The dogwoods are ~ 7ft. this year, and situated in naturally moist ground, whereas the nearby lemon threads are on higher ground I built up. They are thriving with the “just right” amount of natural watering they get from up-slope.
Not really an intentional companion planting. A few years ago (a couple seasons after the false cypresses went in) we scored some ‘rescue’ dogwoods, free for the digging. They went in where they could go.
The combo is not only gorgeous, the shrubs attract a lot of birds all year-round. Save for being minimally sampled by fawns (and spit out), the lemon threads have not been eaten. Around here that’s a big deal.
The dogwoods do get nabbed on the buffet line side we don’t see anyway, but this causes a lot of new shoots to sprout.
Fantastic display this season. The west side backdrop is a natural winterberry thicket, so that’s three from the list!
For those unfamiliar with this gorgeous shrub which can be grown in Zones 4-8:
https://www.naturehills.com/false-cypress-japanese-lemon-thread