An alternative would be to remove half the growth each year after it flowers, so you always have year-old wood for flowering.

Perhaps you can have BOTH? My guess is that you are coppicing at the wrong TIME. I'd go over to the tree forum and ask. I don't knowenough about those trees...but I bet they bloom on old wood. If you were asking about hydrangeas, I'd tell you that you were pruning at the wrong time--and I'd look up the correct time.

melanie

You've been growing them as foliage perennials so far, cutting them down low so the effect is the same as if they were herbaceous. If you shift to growing them as shrubs (or trees) then there will be much less pruning--after they are re-trained into natural shapes--but much bigger tops.

'Grace' is a hybrid smokebush, not a pure European smokebush cultivar. 'Palace Purple' is probably a mistake for 'Royal Purple'. There is a heuchera called 'Palace Purple'.

i have always felt glad that you post where i often read you, and again, you have helped remind/educate me about the old wood/new wood thing - which i DO have trouble learning- no matter how MANY times I have read it in the last 20 years!! so thank you for your note. but when i think about cutting back the long-awaited handsome foliage/shape of those glorious catalpa and cotinus, i just don't think i can do it!! i do, however, think i will follow your suggestion with the physocarpus on the hillside, where it is not such a focal point!! so, thank you, saypoint, for your valuable advice.
best, mindy

p.s. WHEN are you coming up to visit?!we're just 15 min. no. of boston.
www.cottonarboretum.blogspot.com