Maybe Double Play Doozie spirea? I think they top out at 3x3…I have two of them (new last fall) and I really like them so far. I got rid of my roses because of the Japanese beatles as well. There are also some pink dwarf Annabelle-type hydrangeas, like Invincibelle Ruby, that bloom earlier than Bobo. I have two Rubies also, and the only thing I don’t like about them is that they’re so slow growing. Mine are in full sun, zone 5b/6a.

Also consider Little Quickfire hydrangea; it blooms earlier than Bobo, but does get bigger, I think up to five feet, though mine are wider than they are tall. Its blooms start off white and then progress to various shades of pink as the summer goes on. It is truly one of my favorite shrubs!

Yes, Big and little Quickfires are excellent hydrangeas. They don't wilt in the sun, either, which I think is a plus. Among the earliest blooming, too.

we need to know where you are to even start offering suggestions of what will grow there.. big city name ... zone is simply predicted minimum temp on the coldest day of winter.. it tells us nothing else.. and z6 is about half the US ....

and the best suggestions will also probably come.. if you could post us a pic of the spot ...

ken

I live in mid Niagara Peninsula, close to Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The rose bush that is departing is maximum 3 ft wide & tall. I have an Iris behind it that I don't want blocked by a shrub when it's blooming in late May. I looked up Little Quickfire Hydrangea and it looks beautiful (pretty, long flowering) but I'm afraid it is too big for the spot.

In pic, see how bad the rose looks - flopping flowers, rabbits have been pruning it (but that's a separate problem). There is a serviceberry tree to the left of the Liatris. I just cut back the tall bearded Iris behind the rose (sun is shining on it). I can move the Liatris, small box shrub, and white Iris. Immediately behind the Rose Campion is a young Creme de Mint Dogwood (max. 4 ft tall & wide) that will reach the cut back iris & Coneflowers next year. To the right of the Coneflowers are more Coneflowers, Peony, Day Lilies, Daisies. The Creme de Mint (so pretty in winter) is my "large shrub, filler, anchor" and the rose replacement needs to be smaller with green leaves.

I was thinking of Bobo Hydrangea and am listening to suggestions about Little Quick Fire Hydrangea. Someone living in my area growing Little Quick Fire - how big will it get?

Thank you, everyone!

I’m finding it difficult to see what’s wrong with the rose. The foliage looks very healthy. I don't see much flopping either but could it be because its overfed? There isn't a lot of space for another shrub.

Not your zone, but my Little Quickfires have been in the ground for four years and the largest one is about 52” tall and wide. They don’t stay small, but they’re a fantastic shrub if you can make room for it.

I have an Iris behind it that I don't want blocked by a shrub

===>>>

then move the iris ... i see the variegated one to the left.. .and i think i see cut back iris behind the rose ...

flora.. i think this a JBeetle issue more than the rose itself ... and i agree get rid of JB prone plants... if you dont want to spray them all the time .. lifes too short ...

i was hoping for a more general pic.. rather than this rather close up shot of just the rose ... so we could see the rest of the bed.. to see what might fit ...

the thing with shrubs is they dont stop growing at say .... 3 x3 feet estimate.. and then you are signing up for a lifetime of trying to beat them back with a stick... or preferably ... pruning shears or lopers ... which is fine.. as long as you understand what you are signing up for ...

anyway.. my point is.. if i failed to get there .. just dont look at the spot.. look at what easily be moved .. perennial-wise ... to open a space for a more permanent shrub ... wonder if that is any clearer ... in other words.. get of of the box you are sitting in.. and think outside it ...

ken

picture yourself out in the lawn looking at the garden bed: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cat+in+small+box&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Ken is correct - the Japanese Beetles are the biggest problem. And correct again is that I don't want to keep pruning a shrub to fit. Moving plants to give a shrub room is no problem.

Here are 2 pics - one looking from the right, one from the left. I'm pretty satisfied with the right half of the garden (the daisies need to be divided). But the rose was supposed to be a full, lush shrub and it's not. I need something with more presence on the left. As I said before - the tall bearded iris (behind rose) has been cut back. And the Creme de Mint Dogwood (behind Rose Campion) needs to grow up again - it fills in the whole centre are.

I am happy to move the smaller plants on the left side, I'm planning to "re-do" the variegated iris. (The empty areas in front seems to be the bunny cafeteria)

What about caryopteris?

It is hard to come up with ideas that are going to be small enough.