welcome to the forums ...

where are you .. how did you plant them.. how large at planting.. and any chance a pic or two???

ken

Ceaser7 (z5 NW INDIANA) is what I'm seeing.

Aside from that, I've got nothing.

It is a woody plant. Most woody plants will spend the first 1-3 years growing roots to support the plant before a lot of top growth is visible. But there is lots of info we don’t know.

What is the soil like?

Did you water them regularly for at the very least the first season in the ground? Even drought tolerant plants need water the first season or two if they aren’t getting enough regular rain. You need to stick your finger down into the soil a few inches to see what the soil moisture actually is.

Were they bare root or in potting soil? Sometimes there is an issue with water movement between potting soil and the native soil, leaving the rootball either soggy or parched.

Did you remove all plants around their base for a foot or three and mulch to decrease competition from other plants?

Were they tiny twigs at planting or 5 gallon pots or something in between?

Fortunately it isn't too late to destroy them as they are classified as non-native invasive. There are much better native trees/shrubs that would suit the environment better. This USDA document describes some of the baddies out there, including Caragana. You can assist your local environment by sticking to only native plants.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_037724.pdf