I imagine it is slightly alkaline.

==>>> start with a soil test.. and find out... guessing leads to future problems ... contact your county extension or Ag office to find out to have it down ...

ken

Hi Bruce thanks so much!

This is basically a companion plant for a Quick Fire. I was thinking about a Ninebark for the purple...I think I want some purple!

I have a 'Baby Blue Eyes' and a Black Hills Spruce paired up on the other side of this plant, and I could be interested in a conifer, but I'm not sure what would not get so big and look good with the pink of the Quick Fire. Which is why I was leaning toward purple, and the nine bark might be great.

I was thinking Summer Wine for the disease resistance, but it isn't supposed to get that tall and don't nine barks generally need to be hacked down every few years to get them to grow nicely? That's why they weren't on my top list.

The Seibold is interesting. I have a Nannyberry and three other viburnums that my builder installed so pollination shouldn't be an issue!

Summer Wine can get huge in time- easily 6' x 8' if it is happy. We've used the newer Lady in Red and it has fantastic foliage quality throughout the season.

Keep in mind powdery mildew can be an issue with purple leaved ninebarks, particularly on hot and dry sites. We've had mixed success with them getting powdery mildew in general- some sites not any problems, the next site have had to completely remove them. Coppertina and Center Glow are the worst for mildew in our experience.

For the viburnums I think you have to have the same species (but a different cultivar) for pollination. You would need another Siebold Viburnum like Wavecrest or another hardy one to be a successful pollinator. Good luck!

Thanks Bruce-- in your practice, have you seen any luck with Doublefile Viburnums, like Shasta, Mariesii or Summer Snowflake? I absolutely looooove these but I don't see any around here.

Doublefiles should do fine for you as long as it has a little protection (sounds like you do). We have grown Newport here (Regular Viburnum plicatum) and it survived -26 F and colder on at least four occasions. Try one out and you will know for sure!

How about Bayberry? It is evergreen and pretty, but no showy flowers. I have two. The one in the drier spot is growing better than the one in a the wetter spot.

Doublefile Viburnums should be plenty hardy enough for you. I grow three different cultivars of V. plicatum and all do well, and many winters I get a few nights just into zone 4 temperatures. I just don't know if they like soil with your texture and pH since I have acid fine sandy loam.

You expressed concern about soil dryness. My V. plicatum all grow on the edge of wooded areas and get no supplemental water, so I would mulch well, water for the first summer and fall until it has settled in, and then water as needed during dry spells or if they look like they need it.

and do understand.. no transplant is drought tolerant .. at least for the first year .. and maybe not the second if drought ...

so do take care of whatever you plant.. until it gets established.. and drought resistant ..

ken