how about a plastic xmas tree ...

jeez.. you just want perfection .. lol .. dont we all ...

it would really help if you had told us where you are [z6 is pretty all inclusive] .. soil type issues .. snowload issues if any.. etc ....

and be aware.. but for bigboxstore stock.. tree planting season is actually over for the summer.. in your zone.. the next PROPER planting time would be around the time the leaves fall off the trees ...

soooo based on this: so I can start digging holes and go on to the next of many projects

===>> perhaps you ought to move on to other projects.. and 'but for' research.. put this on at the top of the list for september ....

i wonder if wifey will go for that logic.. lol ...

ken

6a ... Ozark Mountains of NW Arkansas ... yeah, I'm a perfectionist, but these are important trees, visually and functionally ... and yeah, I should wait, and will, until fall to stick them in the ground, but I want to have the decision made now so I can go ahead and locate the trees and have them ready for planting when I need them after the summer ... so, can you bail me out?

Kousa dogwood may be a good fit.

Another tree that I lust after - need a spot for it - is stewartia!

One that I grow that I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooove is Cornus mas. Can be grown in shrub multi-stem form or standard. 4 season interest...fabulous.

If you want conifer suggestions...I would go to the conifer forum (and prepare to be inundated w/ a bazillion options. lol)

Kousa dogwood is definitely an option ... the Venus dogwood looks like it might be a great choice ... Stewartia is an awesome tree but may get too big for my purposes ... Cornus mas makes fruit ... looking for something less "messy" ... as for conifers, they're really not my cup of tea ... as for something evergreen, I think I could stomach a magnolia better, though not crazy about that, either ... evergreen dogwood (cornus augustata) looks promising.

up here in Z5 MI .. i dont really know what would be good for you .... so good luck with that...

but understand.. that trees are usually extremely long lived .... most have a predictable annual growth rate .... once 'est'd' ...

and fully understand.. that they never really stop growing at the rate.. for basically the rest of your life.. and for another lifetime after that..

some do slow down.. but nothing will stop ...

MOST... size estimates are at 10 years .... and by 20.. they have the potential to be twice as big ...

so hoping for something that magically stops at 20 feet.. isnt really going to work..

with the annual growth rate.. its all about how fast it gets to 20 feet.. and how fast it grows past that ...

e.g. if it grows a foot per year .... and you start with a reasonable 3 footer .... its going to take 15 or so years to get near your max ...

if you buy one that grow 3 feet per year... well you can do the math..

so on any recommended tree.. google until you find a growth rate estimate.. and work it out from there..

the final thing.. is to start with a small tree ... they are usually less root stressed at planting .... easier to work with.. and in fact ... a 3 footer will probably get established.. and out grow a 6 foot transplant.. in a given 5 years span after transplant.. its all about transplant shock and getting re-established..

and if you shop in that size range.. the mail order world is at your command.... otherwise.. hoping for something interesting at local nurseries.. is just going to get you the usual ho-hum stuff..

i have been posting pix of extra-ordinary things in the tree... shrub.. and conifer forum.. reach for the stars... i have no clue which of mine will work for you .. but a guy can dream ...

good luck

ken

i have an incredible cornus mas but have ZERO mess from the fruit. if i'm lucky enough to even see one before the birds take it...it's still on the tree, not on the ground.

it is a fabulous tree with an amazing shape, shaggy bark, the flower display in march is astounding. it's my fave.

Hmmm ... I just may have to take the plunge with the cornus mas, then ... and Ken, I always plant small trees ... besides being more affordable, I love to watch them grow! What about a cornus mas and an evergreen dogwood? Or, a cornus mas and a forest pansy redbud? Or, a cornus mas and a venus dogwood? Or, a stewartia and a cornus mas? Any better suggestions for a pairing? The part that I didn't tell you is that I had a black walnut tree that I cut down (now that's a messy tree!) and still have two trees that I look forward to cutting down once these two trees take off ... don't know what they are but they have compound leaves and thousands of little white buds they drop and they litter the landscape with little twigs all year long ... messy trees with few redeeming values, including poor fall color (pale yellow).

Stewartia my first thought. There are several species and both: Stewartia pseudocamellia or Stewartia monadelpha would work excellent. Other votes: Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)/Syringa pekinensis/Syringa reticulata, Styrax obassia.

Dax

Stewartia is definitely moving up the ladder ... a taller tree on the side of the front yard to anchor things would work best, I think, and this tree might be perfect ... flowers in spring, great fall color, great bark.

Syringa vulgaris ... too common

Syringa pekinensis ... nice structure, nice flowers, nice bark, but no fall color

Syringa reticulata ... same as above but bark not as nice

Styrax obassia ... same as vulgaris, but still no fall color

I'm thinking dogwood on the other tree, which will be in the middle of the yard next to the driveway/carport ... venus, evergreen, and cornus mas at the top of that list.

Other thoughts?

Be mindful of conifers that look different from what you may think of as conifers. I like Baby Blue Eyes Colorado Spruce, which is smaller than the species norm., but what do you think of Boulevard False Cypress (the intact pyramidal ones, not the 'poodle-cut' topiaries)? Neither looks much like a pine tree, especially the Boulevard.

Richard.

Has berries but is awesome and will also attract songbirds:

Rhamnus caroliniana link below (very uncommon in the trade)

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Shooting Star Nursery

Ozark witch hazel

What about a Japanese Maple? I've just started to collect these and they outshine most of my conifers/flowers/trees. One of my favorites so far is Acer shirasawanum Autumn Moon which grows to around 8' in 10 years. The leaves start off green, but within a few weeks change to bright yellows, oranges, and reds. Fall colors throughout the entire growing season, can't beat that! See the link for a pic.

Here is a link that might be useful: Japanese Maple

Ideas:

Weeping Higan Cherry
Weeping Mulberry Chaparral
European Mountain Ash (might be too messy for you with the berries)

Baby Blue Eyes Colorado Spruce ... nice tree, but slow grower

Boulevard False Cypress ... good tree for the right spot, but lacks "wow" factor

Rhamnus caroliniana ... flowers in spring, good fall color, but berries toxic ... we have two dogs who eat everything

Witch hazel ... awesome flowers when nothing else is blooming, good fall color, but not a "specimen tree"

Acer shirasawanum Autumn Moon ... amazing color, if it is in the sun quite a bit ... good fall color ... maybe too small for my purposes and not enough screening ... perhaps a good choice to put in a large pot on my front patio?