No argument here, it is a wonderful shrub - often fragrant, fairly drought tolerant once established and very cool looking flowers! In addition to the native red one, I also have the cultivar 'Athens' - it's always a hit with visitors.

I found both the 'Michael Lindsey' and 'Athens' cultivars at Home Depot last year during the flush of spring sales.

I planted 'Athens' in a protected spot about five years ago and its done very well here in z4. We had a rather harsh winter and it doesn't seem to be any worse for wear. Interesting & fragrant flowers that are long-lasting. It seems to me the fragrance is stronger at night, but maybe its because I've slowed down enough to take it all in.

I love it, but I have to find a way to contain its roots, because it's taking over the beds. Funny, the one I grew up with didn't do that.

How would these shrubs do near or even under maples?

Karen

Probably very well. Mine is in full shade ad has hundreds of blooms on it. It scents our whole backyard. They seem to love shade. Just keep it pruned so it stays bushy and not tall and lanky.

Just the other day I was in a neighbor's yard and saw hers was full of sweet shrub, blood root and green and gold. And of course she has never planted any of it, she didn't even know what it was. Mine yard, on the other hand which is directly downhill from hers was full of nothing but privet, honeysuckle and briar bushes (whatever those wild berry bushes are called.) It seems to be the disadvantage to being downhill from everyone, all the invasive seeds mush wash down my way. Anyway I have never seen the sweet shrub bushes get full looking. Is that due to the soil being too lean you think? I have a couple tiny ones in my yard now including one that I purchased about 3 years ago. They are really hardly noticeable. None have really grown much. Not sure what I should do to help them along.

Mine is in full shade ad has hundreds of blooms on it.

herp35, yours is probably getting filtered sun to some degree and you just don't realize it.

To increase fullness, you could nip some of the tips to force side branching. The deer nipped mine (blast their hides) and the plants are responding by putting out more growth.

I'll have to give them a try. Nothing wants to grow under these maples, as is usually the case, and would like to plant some under story shrubs along the property line between us and our neighbors house...mean to say but they are an eyesore. It would be nice to plant something that'll get reasonably large under the trees to block them out, if only for the summertime.

Karen

I just moved mine and I have my fingers crossed that it will be okay. It was about 6 feet tall and was in full sun up against the house foundation. Its new home is in dappled shade. When I moved it, its leaf buds were just starting to swell, and it doesn't seem to have missed a beat. The leaves are pushing out now, and there is a bloom bud on every node up and down every branch.

I planted it as a mail order twig three years ago, and with all that sun and soil warmth against the foundation, it has grown very fast and is very full, almost even dense. I don't dare prune it because I adore it, but maybe next year I'll prune the tips to keep it full.

Sadly, mine has no fragrance at all. I am hoping to find an Athens locally, but what I really want is a Venus. They have it Wayside but I passed on it because I hate Wayside and also because they won't ship it until Fall 08 (but of course they will promptly charge my credit card the second they get my order.)

Check out this beauty:

Here is a link that might be useful: Venus