Brandywine looks best as a multi-stemmed shrub. All the growth on your's is from 1 stem. Has it attempted to throw up new stems? If it was mine, I'd prune off the sideways branching, which could stimulate new stems.

I would do what jay says. Cut off that sideways shoot then plant the poor thing now.

Yes, get it in the ground now, let it settle in and then start pruning lightly first spring.

Thanks for the correction, floral and laceyvail. I see your point.

Oh no!!! Not the dreaded "p" word! Ugh! Ugh, ugh, ugh. Okay, I guess if I must, I must lol. But at least I can put it off till spring!

And just to clarify, it's not really a "poor thing" lol. Last November I got this as a little plant about 6 inches tall, in a little dried-out coir pot about 3 inches square. I potted it up and it has done very well this season. Well, other than growing sideways, that is, lol.

And I do think it is trying to throw up another stem. If you look at the last picture at the base of the plant there is a little shoot.

This was meant to be something front and center along the street, but I have another one which I think I will use there - it's smaller, but has more centered and balanced growth. I'll put this sideways one elsewhere just in case I mangle it when pruning. At least it will be my private shame and not visible to every passing car haha.

:)

Dee

P.S. Thank you everyone!

Dee – There is something to be said for ‘left-of-center and unbalanced’ . I have V. nudum 'Winterthur' and I have never tried to shape it (out of laziness + forgetfulness) – actually I am not sure what shape it should have. I did once prune back some branches (not to the ground) – they were very tall/longish branches that shot way up – probably why I got the horizontal branching. I agree you should plant it, let it grow out, and prune to the shape you like.

raymond thank you so much for the photo. It helps so much to see something in a real garden setting as opposed to a promotional photo. I was hesitating on planting this in the spot I had for it, but your photo has reassured me!

:)

Dee