A witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) might be nice or a Grancy Graybeard (Chionanthus virginicus.

Grancy Graybeard sounds wonderful. Especially if it blooms at the same time as the azaleas. What would be a good groundcover that blooms about the same time?

perennial candytuft would be a beautiful, evergreen groundcover that blooms about the same time. If you area is shadier or more moist, think planting some sweet woodruff for scent, or possibly some native green and gold (mind you, it's bright yellow). Another easy groundcover is strawberry begonia, just the contrast of leaf color is fantastic without the flowers (which are cute anyway!)

GGG

I love woodruff - for me it flowers a little later than the azaleas, but that's ok. I like strawberry begonia too, but am afraid it would get burned this time of year in that location. I think ya'll have solved my problem. Now, does anyone know a local source for Grancy Graybeard?

Read the ads in The Market Bulletin. Also try Perennial Grace Nursery,near Crabapple.( they are on-line)

Make sure you get the native one (Chionanthus virginicus), there is a chinese chionanthus as well. I'd call around and ask (beats riding around in this heat). Buck Jones in Woodstock is a good source.

Hi, you may want to go to Hastings and have a look at the spectacular one they have planted in their display garden. It inspired me to plant one! BTW it's huge!
My first thought was a Paper Bark Maple or one of the smaller Japanese Maples maybe a Coral Bark.

I know you like the greybeard but what about considering a crape myrtle and spreading the flowering time? They have great 'legs' frankie lynn

Crape myrtles do have great legs. I am thinking about it. The graybeard is starting to sound like it might get too big for the spot. I need an understory tree, so... still trying to figure it out. A Japanese maple might be the way to go. Does anyone know the mature height of a red buckeye? I know a good nursery where I can get an 8-gallon one for $40. Problem is, I really, really, really want that Grancy Graybeard.

How about a Stewartia tree? Awesome bark and can take part shade.

Harriet

Chionanthus virginicus grows slowly to 20 feet. You'd have to get a dwarf crepe myrtle to stay below that. Or murder it every year anyway, but that doesn't make for attractive winter viewing.

Conflicting data on Aesculus pavia. Some say only 10 feet, some say could get to 20 feet and rarely gets to 30 feet. Probably a good candidate. Hummingbirds love it.

Stewartia malacodendron appears to stay around 15 feet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stewartia malacodendron, silky camellia

Sugar Hill I am trying to figure out where this spot is that you are talking about. Are you talking about the bed where you have the myosotis that gave me? Sorry but since they weren't blooming I can't even recall the azaleas.From what I recall about Miss Kim they grow pretty slow and only wind up about 4 or 5 feet tall and wide. What about a purple smoke bush? Or you think not enough sun?

Hey Kathy, no it's not the area with the myosotis. It's the area right at the front of the yard where the big tradescantia was blooming. That's where I'm taking out all the current plants and want to put in a shrub or tree.

It's not easy to find, but look up
Chionanthus pygmaeus

GGG

Thanks for all the suggestions and help with this decision. After thinking about it and studying it, I decided on a Miss Kim lilac. The deciding factor was the mature height. I think it will be just right. The scent makes it hard to resist too. And I think it fits in with the informal look of my yard.
The biggest problem with the Grancy Graybeard was that it would eventually get too big for the site - no way around it. The dwarf sounded great, but not easy to find is such an understatement. I just have to have a Grancy Graybeard some place in the yard. A storm recently blew the top out of a sweet gum tree, so I think when I have the tree taken down I'll put a Grancy Graybeard in it's place.
Thanks again for all the great suggestions.