If they get berries, they bloomed. You just didn't see them; the flowers are small and inconspicuous but fragrant. And they bloom in winter.

I've definitely seen berries but was hoping for flowers. Thanks.

As I wrote, you DID get flowers.

I think you might be happier with abelia in that location. Same dark green (very nice with the brick, black and white) but much more prominent flowering and a more attractive mounding habit that will billow over the sides. Get dwarfs that won't need to be pruned and you'll avoid an ugly period every year. My two cents..

Thanks Kitasei and laceyvail. I took a closeup of the SS yesterday. Are those flowers or berries on the way? Also discovered the treated wood is leaching a white glue like substance into the bed but the plants look fine. I have some abelia and I do like those. Good idea. I hope they are as durable as the SS.

Thanks garden gal. I am going to stay outside all winter to see those $#%@$#% flowers. I wish more shrubs could bloom in the shade as I have so much of it. Many of my bloomers get few blooms or bloom gradually instead of all at once so there isn't a lot of impact.

So the fungus won't hurt the SS?

Thanks,

AL

Seeing the flowers is not really their point. They’re small and visually unimpressive. It’s the smell which is the draw.

Ironic the smell is potent given small flowers. Can’t smell so will ask wife to smell for me.