need help for choosing shrub

[Catwheazle]

Hello,
I'm looking for a replacement for my shrub that is too big (Philadelphus erectus) and hardly blooming
and full of aphids.
It is at the entrance to the house (east side) and should be about 1.5-2m high. East. Soil: lime, clay, always moist.
Climate: Pre-Alps. 800NN Long winter, lots of snow, late frosts, lots of rain. Occasional frost down to -28 ° C.
A decorative small shrub would be ideal as a nectar plant (bees, butterflies (please no Buddleya) preferably from Asia (China),
if necessary also from the American continent. Does anyone have an idea? Thank you!
greetings
Bernd

[Gail]

A Sarcococca - deliciously fragrant in winter and very neat evergreens. Good for any early emerging bumble bees...

[GordonT]

Bernd, you also might find Clethra alnifolia worth consideration, although it is from North America. The upright panicles of exceptionally sweet scented flowers appear in mid to late summer, an excellent nectar source for butterflies. The deciduous foliage turns a very good yellow in autumn. There are several forms available in the nursery trade.

[Catwheazle]

Sarcococca is a beautiful plant. Thank you! Unfortunately it's evergreen. With snow amounts of 1 - 1.5m it is unfortunately totally compressed :-(
Clethra alnifolia looks good ... put on the "watch list" :-)
Addendum: according to the Internet: neutral to acidic soils ..... a shame. Here is lime, so basic :-(

thx :-)

[Hannelore]

One of the Amelachier family?

Nicht als Werbung für Horstmann, aber als Information: https://www.baumschule-horstmann.de/gattung/felsenbirnen

[Gail]

What about a peony? Some of the 'tree peonies' can get big but tolerate pruning - if you were worried about them getting too tall you could try one of the Itoh hybrids. Simply Red and Sequestered Sunshine are both quite shrubby here but don't get above chest height.
Good bee plants and some also have good autumn colour.

[Catwheazle]

* lol * yes, I guess it will be a Paeonia again, even if the garden is already full :-)
However, I have been looking for a source for seeds / plants of single origin for a long time! the Rockii group.
Unfortunately I already spent a lot of money and then received bad hybrids :-(
I don't know how it is with you, but I have the impression that hardly any retailer takes it really
seriously when it comes to the authenticity of the variety.

[Gail]

I know what you mean. I have bought a lot of plants, even from 'reputable' nurseries which have turned out to be incorrectly named, which is particularly frustrating if you have waited a couple of years for them to flower...
I don't have any seed left now but if you remind me next summer, I'll send you some.

[Tristan_He]

How about a Daphne Bernd?

I can also recommend Viburnum x bodnantense 'Charles Lamont' - mine flowers at least 3 times per year. It would need some pruning to keep it in your height range though.

Corylopsis pauciflora is also lovely. Although the books say acid soil, a neighbour of my mothers had a lovely specimen for a while on alkaline clay. Would prefer a bit of shade though I think, but should do well in your continental climate. Hamamelis is also lovely - again though said to need acid soil I think it's more important that it is well-drained and not too hot and dry.

Best wishes, Tristan

[Catwheazle]

Thanks to everyone. I chose a Paeonia decomposita subsp. rotundiloba decided :-)

greetings
Bernd