Summer flowering and fast growth - that ought to narrow it down. Clethra has beautiful fragrant flowers in July and August. The ones I've seen have all been under 5 feet, but they can supposedly get to 12 feet tall. For someone of your determination and imagination it should be a piece of cake.

Trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans) produces bold and beautiful flowers in summer. True it is a vine but it grows really fast and I have seen it grown in impressive semi-tree like form.

Kalmia or Mt Laurel is a lovely early summer flowering plant that can attain tree status and has great character.

For an exotic try a Evodia or Euodia. This produces summer flowers in profusion and decorative seeds in late summer. At an eventual 20 to 30 feet or more it might be a bit bigger than the shrub like a tree category. I saw one at Durand Eastman in Rochester NY during summer and I thought it was surprisingly attractive.

For another exotic summer-flowering 20 to 30 foot range tree how about Hovenia or Japanese Raisin Tree. I've only seen these in a few gardens but I'm always impressed by their interesting form.

For a really bold plant of this description try Aralia or Devil's Walkingstick. It has a great twisted trunk with big thorns, summer flowers that will knock your socks off, and a great fruit cluster. It looks tropical and will likely stay under 20 feet. I've seen it grow quite fast.

I'm out of ammo now, but if I think of any more I'll post them

Heptacodium is a fast grower and flowers in the summer.

Amelanchier arborea or Hamamelis virginiana or one of the Hamamelis hybrids?

I forgot about Heptacodium, I saw a really nice one in a little arboretum in the Catskills (espalliered against a wall), but it might be hard to come by. I was going to suggest witch hazels too - think they are great, but they flower in fall where I live(if you're a stickler about the summer ending Sept 21). I think your concept is kind of a fascinating one. I always take a keen interest when I come across a plant which usually grows as a shrub or vine but is more tree like.

In a similar vein, I wish I had an extensive property, one thing I would like to try is growing all the classic native shrubs (and maybe a few choice exotics)where they could reach their full spreading potential. Good luck on your noble effort.

sorry, I missed the part about flowering in summer.

Clethra barbinervis will bloom in late June-early July and easy could reach 15-18'. Could be grown as a shrub or a small tree. Fast grower, 2'+ a year if sufficient moisture will be provided. Shade tolerant.

How about a hydrangea formed into a tree. One of my friends has one that is SPECTACULAR! This is not hers, but a photo I found on the internet.

Patty

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:254408}}

I agree about the hydrangea. To some they may seem a bit old-fashioned, but I'm always impressed when I walk through an old cemetery and see these ancient tree like specimens flowering when few other things are, and the dried flowers are decorative in fall as well.

The winterberry holly is another summer flowering shrub. The flowers aren't spectacular and it usually forms a thicket, but a single monster stem might be pretty bold. Since they are usually planted to maximize berry production, maybe no one has ever tried to confine it to a single stem. You might be breaking new ground.

Another vote for heptacodium. I bought one from forestfarm this spring, and I am in love with the thing. Definitely an out-of-the-box type of shrub/tree. I went for the 5 gallon, and paid $49 in shipping. Worth every dime for all those roots.

Also, rose of sharon should work too.
Patty

Sorry for not getting back sooner. I get sidetracked and forget where I posted. I found a way to check on myself so now Ill do better. I search my name and all my posts in all the forums come up.

Any who. Thanks for taking time to help me. Ive been checking out all your sugestions. I said summer but fall is good too. I have a big old two story 1850s brick. So old fashioned is good and so are some of the taller ones.

I just want to spread the cheer thru the year. I have a dozen spring flowering trees. Spring is awesome. Then nothing, just green trees.

Heptacodium is an extremely rapid grower. Buy the smallest, least expensive one you can find. I got mine from Bluestone--about 4 inches tall and expect it to be in the four foot range by next summer.

I would suggest Russian Olive in a flash. Grows very fast attracts birds and the smell coming from the yellow flowers is just divine and it is very attractive.

Anicee