Google each one for the mature size. Then you'll know.

As Laceyvail suggested, look up the size for all of them. Limelight hydrangeas are great plants, but fairly large, much larger than the W & R Weigela I have. It is also probably larger than anything with "pygmy" as part of its name, though I don't know for sure. Also, some varieties of barberry can be invasive - they spread into wild areas and choke out native plants. Here's a fact sheet from WI DNR that should tell you if your type is a problem. Regardless, if you are planning on interplanting them with the Limelight hydrangeas regular pruning of the hydrangeas will involve the prickers. There is a smaller Hydrangea paniculata called Little Lime that might suit the other choices better as to size, though you haven't said how large you want it. Another reddish-leafed shrub that in my garden is more ornamental that either my W & R Weigela or barberry is Ninebark. They range in size from one like 'Tiny Wine' which is around 4' tall to 'Coppertina' which is probably 8'x8'. Choosing plants that fit your size requirements works better to my mind than having to prune 36' of hedging annually at the correct time of year to not remove flower buds.

Another consideration is that all 3 plants are deciduous, so you will have just bare twigs from late fall until April or May, so think about if you want that as the view in this area for 6 months of the year. There are plants (both deciduous and evergreen) that will look nicer in winter.

Yes, skip the barberries. Not only are they invasive but leaves become intertwined in them during the winter which will be a headache to clean up. Wine and Roses will get very large in time but Fine Wine is very slow growing. Another great dwarf Weigela is Dark Horse. As Babs suggested why not use a dwarf conifer- I would do something like a dwarf blue spruce such as 'St. Mary's Broom' or 'Waldbrunn' that will give you great color all year but maintains a low growing shape similar to the barberries.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions! I'll check out the other dwarf weigelas and the dwarf conifers. I hadn't considered those. The Tiny Wine Ninebarks look great, too!

Sorry if I wasn't clear, but I have researched the sizes extensively online but I was mainly looking for real experience from experienced gardner. My goal is to keep these shrubs to around 3 - 5ft.

I do plan to use the little lime or dwarf limelight hydrangea. The full size one would be way too big for around my deck.

I've tried a few times to attach a picture but no luck. The area gets full sun from mid-morning through the late afternoon.

nothing ever really stops growing.. so sooner or later... you will have to become proactive with pruning ...

and let me tell you ... there are not many things worse to prune ... that barberry ... with all those needle sharp thorns ... unless there are thornless ones ...

ken

Being a Minnesotan, my hometown favorite for small, purple Ninebarks is Little Devil. Bred by a local plantsman.

Hard pruning of the larger weigelas in the winter will reduce the bloom so stick with ones that will require less pruning to fit the space.

The little lime hydrangea can be pruned back when dormant and will bloom and fit the space nice. I usually cut them back by about 1/2.

Thanks for all your feedback!! My decision is to go with the Little Devil Ninebark and the little lime hydrangeas around the deck. Can't wait to see how these work. Thanks again