Skimmia japonica is dead common in my area - every nursery carries it! I'd be a bit skeptical about how well it will winter in zone 6. It requires shade if you want to avoid bleached out leaf color and mite issues and prefers an organically enriched and moisture retentive acidic soil. I prefer male plants above females as they have much showier and I think more fragrant flowers....and I really could care less about the berries :-)

Thanks gardengal. I am seeing mixed zone info - some say zone 7, others zone 6, which is where I am. And this would be for a shady spot which is why it caught my eye. Ironically, all the online sources I'm finding to buy it are in the UK - except for Lowe's lol. I find it funny that I can find it in a big boxstore or overseas! I never thought of it as an unusual plant but now I can't seem to find it for sale. The search continues, I guess. As well as the search for more concrete zone info. I'm hoping to find the variety that is self-pollinating, but I may have to settle for a male and a female (I want it all - flowers AND berries lol!) Thanks!

:)
Dee

I know very little about any of the shrubs you listed. What about them attracts you?

Are you thinking about the "usual attributes" such as seasons of interest, habit (clean, messy, ) pruning requirements, food source for wildlife. Do You get wet snow where you are? Some shrubs may have brittle wood and look a mess after high wind, rain or heavy snow, though trees are more susceptible to damage . Flowers, berries, succession of blooms? I have made so so many mistakes I cringe to think about what I've gotten rid of. Ones that withstood the test of time? Winterberry, rhodies, beetle resistent viburnums esp the plicatums tomentosem despite pouting when short on water. There are several indespensible hydranges and some are unsuited for large swathes of New England. Buyer beware of sexy bombshells that bloom on old wood only

I have the Exochorda. It's gorgeous in bloom but offers nothing else and usually defoliates by this time of year. Somewhat sprawling too--but Oh, that spring bloom. I also have the much older cultivar, 'The Bride'.

Laceyvail, do you prefer the Bride? I liked this one because I liked the flowering habit a bit more than the Bride. And this is planned for a border whose main purpose is a privacy hedge, so I'm okay with the "nothing else" for most of the season. I'd prefer it didn't defoliate till a bit later but that's the way it goes, I guess! Can you tell me about it's growing situation in your garden Sun, moisture, etc. The spot I have is kind of difficult so I'm trying to do my research! Thank you!

:)
Dee

Dee, I see from another of your posts that you have all the shrubs I suggested. I thought I remembered you posting about yellow berried ilex a long time ago. I think you are way ahead of me in the shrub collection. I was happy to get rid of the beautyberry. It took up way too much real estate for the return on the investment. I always liked it in other people's gardens, just not mine. Oh, I've shovel pruned several unfortunate choices in shrubs that I planted in the wrong place didn't have the right place to move it to.

I have Exochorda Lotus Moon and it is probably my favorite of the very early flowering shrubs. Very prolific, bright white flowers. It can get a little tired looking late season if the summer is too hot and dry. Decent yellow fall color.