Ok, thsnk you. But now my question is whether i csn prune it to keep it 3 feet. i see it wants to be 4-7, and sometimes even much larger. Would it transplsnt well? i have another location where it could grow unchecked, but i am losing confidence in trsnsplanting after killing three bridal veil spireas. On the other hand it seems like a lot of work every year to keep this contained so close to the peegee hydrangea. What would you do?

A tip. Foliage arrangement always helps as a starting point. Willows are alternate. Almost all dogwoods are opposite.

From Missouri Botanic Garden under Noteworthy Characteristics

Leaves appear in opposite pairs or whorls of three which is unusual for a willow which normally has alternate leaves.

I grow different species of Salix as basketry willow, but I wonder if you couldn't treat it the same way. Re keeping it in check, I coppice every year when it's dormant, however, it also propagates so easily that you could take cuttings and try propagating before you attempt to move it.

Oops. I stand corrected. I didn't mean it wasn't a willow. I just didn't look properly at the picture, ignoring my own advice.