Understory trees are what you seek. Native trees are ideal. Dogwoods are my fav, providing spring blossoms, fall color and red berries in winter for birds. They like to grow at woods edge but will survive in full sun with ample water. Redbuds are good for light shade, too.

I like planting trees with edible fruits like pears, peaches, plums, apricots.

Nell

I'm planting dogwoods, redbuds, and fruit trees. I've got a cherry, a plum, and a peach. None need a pollinator and were chosen just for that reason. They offer nice spring color and good foliage, especially the plum.

For fall color, nothing beats a red flame maple. A pansy redbud will have purplish foliage all summer.

Keep in mind the mature size of the tree, not just what you see at the nursery. Think about sewer lines or septic tanks. Don't try to grow non-native species that can't take your winters/summers. And remember, if it flowers, it might set seed. As you know, seeds like acorns and maples can really ruin a perennial garden in no time flat without constant weeding.

Thanks for the ideas Nell and Tom(?).

We've got full hot sun all day in the front - I didn't know if a dogwood would be able to take the heat.

Funny you should mention non-native species. We were at a very large popular nursery over the weekend and they had some type of palm - they were HUGE and very expensive. It struck me as odd - you don't see those growing in the woods around here.

I guess I need to investigate the fruit trees - We've got cherry, peach and fig on another section of the property. Don't fruit trees require a certain number of cold hours before they will set fruit?

Yes. If you can, pick up a copy of the Southern Living Southeast Guide. It has entire sections on the fruit trees that do well in our zones and even gives the number of chill hours required. Most garden centers worth the time to visit will only stock fruit trees that work in your area. You may have to visit a real nursery and stay away from the big box stores. Especially the stores that don't have a Live Nursery specialist and even then, you could have someone who just orders things based on availability, not the proper plants such as the palm trees.

I don't know if this would work in your zone but I planted a Winter King Hawthorne in my back yard to some day shade me in a hammock. It has white flowers in spring and red berries in the winter for the birds. At maturity it is more horizontal spread then very high. It is planted mid yard 25' from the house. Good luck.

Some small(er) trees that I like and would probably do well for you are serviceberry (amelanchier), sourwood and Chinese pistache. If I had the space I would certainly try all of the above (I only have the amelanchier). I also love birch, but I'm not sure whether it would be suited for your climate. Hymalayan birch is by far my favorite. I started one from seed a few years ago and I'm babying it :-).

Eduarda