For me all it did was send out runners several feet from the main plant, which itself never grew much. After several years I shovel pruned it.

Stock I have seen presented to the market here has apparently been sent to retailers whacked down to stubs beforehand. As though the growth of material used by production nurseries has not been fitting the bill (naturally quite short, mound like habit).

I’ve had the same experience as Lacey: I planted two 1 gal. containers in spring 2018 and they’ve sent out numerous runners, but the mother plants haven’t gotten much taller than their initial height of about 7-8”, although the deer have “trimmed” them back a few times as well.

Thanks everyone - I know they're supposed to be slow growers, but wasn't sure exactly what rate that meant as I can't find anything online regarding specifics. Our landscape designer had over 30 of them on the plans in the very front of our house, but at $50 a plant I wasn't sure how quickly they would fill in and whether it would be worthwhile. Also wasn't sure if I could just split them or take cuttings and not have to pay the full $1500 just for basic bushes.

Embothrium: they had it lined along the driveway. We were debating putting in sarah bernhardt peony since we had some on the other side and just line the ends with the aronia (instead of the other way around), but we don't want to visually cut off the area with the height the peony would have. Can't find a "showy" lower height bush that would fit the bill, especially for zone 5.

Is Spirea 'Golden Elf' hardy for you. Low and very striking.