These are all growing very well here on the west coast, and I wouldn't mind planting more of them, whatever they may be. Pics 1 and 2 (top left) are of the same shrub. Pics 3 and 4 (top right) are of the same shrub that has red flowers. Pics 5 and 6 on the bottom left are of the same tree.
1 and 2. Difficult to give a positive id without flowers or berries. Does look like Cornus alba Aurea. See.... http://images.google.com/imgres?img...microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7SUNA&sa=N
2 weigelas and a Katsura tree. The first two are shrubs, the second a tall-growing tree. I wouldn't load up on the weigelas as they have little value beyond the flowering. There ARE assorted colored foliage forms on the market, with purplish or variegated leaves that add an additional dimension. But in winter all are clumps of bare sticks.
Oh, that's too bad. It's so hard to find evergreen broadleafs or at least leaves that can withstand some frost, without looking too exotic (like fatsia japonica). I also found another pretty one nearby and was really hopeful about it until my book told me it was the invasive 'Japanese Knotweed' and that it's best to stay clear of that one. :( You are all so helpful with ID-ing, and I took lots of pics this weekend. I think I'm going to post some more....
Most weedy knotweeds here are Bohemian knotweed, the hybrid between Japanese and giant knotweeds. It has often been called Japanese knotweed by mistake. All are herbaceous perennials. Some good broad-leaved evergreen shrubs for partial shade are Azara microphylla Buxus sempervirens Daphne odora Gaultheria shallon Kalmia latifolia Mahonia aquifolium Mahonia japonica Pieris japonica Rhododendron hybrids Vaccinium ovatum Viburnum japonicum
