On 16 Jul, 10:25, Roo wrote:
Here in cold, wet Lancashire, on heavy clay soil, I've a fantastically
proportioned plant which I prune yearly in spring. Its end of season
height is no more than 5-6 FEET, not metres, and as yet, after 10
years, I've had no suckers !

I'd try pruning it next spring - give it another chance - it's a
beauty !

Isn't it! So versatile as well, either you keep it pruned as a bush or
let it grow, as we do ours, into a beautiful natural shape, which
gives a japanese feel to our front garden. Ours has never sent any
suckers either - it's now around 8 years old, about 2m plus high, and
we enjoy it very much. It is the last one to keep its leaves in the
autumn, and it looks fantastic with its red, orange and yellow colours
next to a huge clump of rudbekia. It's canopy is so airy that it gives
chance to lots of plants to thrive underneath, we've got heucheras,
rudbekias and japanese anemones. I've even got a fantastic crop of red
berries this year, it's daple shade is perfect for it. If I had
suckers, I'd give them away as presents or use them to swap with
friends/gardeners!