I rated this average for the following reasons: On the plus side, it's beautiful, nice and tall, and looks lovely in my room. On the minus side, however, it sheds a great deal more than expected, and is messier than I'd like. Balancing out the 2, I gave this item a 3. If you can deal with the mess and white particles flying about and getting stuck in your carpeting and clothing, go for it. It's a beautiful look, but wouldn't recommend if you are a neat freak like me.