Forgot to mention I already have Crepe Myrtles and an ornamental Pear.

I would get either the Magnolia or the cherry. I have both (although not 'Athene') and aam entralled anew each year! Both are beautiful in the spring. I have a couple of redbuds and I don't think they are as pretty. especially after flowering, but that is just me.

Have you seen any of those trees growing near you? If so, how did they look?
If not, you may have to use the Western Sunset Garden Book to find things that will grow where you are since you didn't mention it and california is comprised of numerous climates. Your USDA zone number tells us nothing and it can't be used to select trees from online nursery sites and expect them to do well.

A lot of California is a desert too. Western exposure doesn't really tell us about the site. You can have deep shade with a western exposure. It can be done dry or sopping wet. It can be sandy soil or compacted clay or anything in between.

I'm taking a stab in the dark here and guess you have not seen these growing locally. And the reason I say that is because you state that you are looking for something with a nice form. With the exception of the magnolia which I am not familiar with, redbuds are normally kinda gangley looking not to mention short lived and prone to problems even where it's native. Same for the flowering cherries. That's going to require beaucoup gallons of water just to have leaves where you are. (I'm guessing)

I agree with the gist of grandma's comment. Give us your Sunset zone for a better solution set. Most of the Kwanzan I've seen in CA last about 15 years then go into moderate-rapid decline. CA in general should not be considered a place to grow magnolia ('Athene' not rated to 9A, BTW) because it generally is semiarid and potable water soon will not be widespread in residential landscapes. We can say nothing about OK redbud because we know nothing about the site. We should not recommend anything else until we receive information about the site.

Dan

See, this is why you shouldn't listen to me! Dan and Grandma think through everything. I take back what I said-unless you move to northern VA! :)

Thank you all very much! Grandma, I live inland (near Sacramento) where it is hot and dry and rains a lot in winter. There are lots of Redbuds around but the native varieties would probably not like a lawn setting. Oklahoma seems to do well here and tolerates lawn as long as it is planted high. I currently grow a Randy Magnolia (basically a shrub) but it gets some kind of fungal disease in summer. I have seen Athenes (plate sized blossoms) in a nearby nursery garden and it is sold in several local nurseries. I'm in love with it. Based on your comments and fact it is short lived, decided not to grow Kwanzan. Someone just suggested a Little Gem Magnolia, Alexander or Star Magnolia. They thought Athene might be too large. Dan, My sunset zone is 9. I live in an area that borders zone 14. The site gets a little sun mornings and lost of sun afternoons. Our soil is fairly hideous (clay) but I amend it a lot.

I used to live in the Town and Country neighborhood. Small magnolias will freeze there every 5-7 years, despite what Capitol or Matsuda's tells you, unless they are under the canopy of a large tree. If you are up closer to Orangevale-Roseville then you will definitely want to avoid magnolia as they want deeper loam. What about something like Vitex or fringe tree or tree lilac?

Dan

Cyn from VA - thanks just the same!
Small world, Dan... Sadly, Matsuda's went out of business. I do happen to live on the border of Citrus Heights and Roseville. But I used to be from Chicago where Lilacs were spectacular. Not sure why but they do not seem to be as fragrant here but worth exploring. Lilac scent is the best.
Where I would plant the Magnolia would be somewhat protected. After you mentioned freezing I looked up magnolias on Monrovia's site. Cold hardiness zones and sunset zones sound ok for some varieties. Would amending the soil and digging deeper (if possible) compensate for magnolia's loam preference you mentioned?

French lilacs don't work well in CA - you want the Descanso vars (from Descanso gardens in SoCal); Capitol on Freeport used to carry them when I lived there.

If you have a caliche layer up there (likely) your task for digging a hole will be huge - as magnolias are shallow-rooted and extensive & you'll need to break the hardpan layer and go into the sandy layer underneath for drainage, I'd mound to give a better chance for success, rototill new soil into native for best drainage.

If you look in Land Park neighborhood and around gardens in Land Park you'll see several mag vars that seem to do well 5 years out of seven (this year might be bad). Also some good ones among the camellias in the Fab 40s in East Sac for ideas on what will make it, albeit a bit warmer in winter down there than up where you are & you are warmer in summer - might be some mags in the older neighborhoods by the water park in roseville & worth a drive around.

Dan

I checked out pictures of Vitus - I think.) Never heard of caliche before - thank you for the information. Someone told me small varieties of Magnolias do not have extensive root systems that southern magnolias have. I hope that is true. If they are shallow rooted why it is necessary to dig deep to break the hardpan layer? I think the most deep I have gone is 12 - 15 inches here. If that is not deep enough, I will need to re-consider magnolias. Thanks, Dan.

I would go with Australian Bottlebrush. Grows maybe 15 feet tall and produces large exotic bush-like red flowers that attract lots of hummingbirds.

The caliche layer sets up a perched water table and mags don't like to have their feet constantly wet - which is why some places up there build mound plantings. Aside, some of the old olive groves in Orangevale-CH were planted with dynamite (to get thru the hardpan) so the trees could have drainage.

Dan

Dan, DYNAMITE?? I'm hoping maybe my little corner of the world will be ok rototilled. It's amazing to me that any tree survives in areas with caliche layer.

My last post was cut off. When I checked out Vitus online I meant to say where I had seen them in person I had always mistaken them for buddlias. Thanks greenthumbz for the Bottlebrush suggestion. This post has really been an education regarding small trees. Dan, your suggestions Vitus and lilac tree - if I have caliche, would they do better than Magnolias?

Absolutely, esp if your parcel is flat. Not uncommon in such situations to dig up a tree and see the roots right at the hardpan layer, all spread out in every direction.

I did a couple-3-4 landscape jobs in Roseville area, and I recall I put in a crab up by Intel, and it took me all day to get thru the hardpan, but last I was up there the tree was doing very well.

Dan