Where specifically in zone 6? Western Oklahoma or Southern Ohio? Might make a difference.

Kansas City, Missouri

define what you mean by small ... do you not want to breech the property line???

ken

All good choices. Also consider one of the yellow saucer mags like 'Butterflies' if it's hardy for you. Stunning.

I would say 20' is the optimum height. It is not a problem if the canopy goes over the property line, but they do have a pool, so I wouldn't want too much. I am also concerned with the spread. The bed to the north of the driveway is only about 9' so I don't want it to appear "stuffed" in the location. Probably 20' on the spread. Also on the opposite corner is a crabapple tree.

In your climate I would think fringe tree and star magnolia would be relatively slow growers, fringe tree 12" and star mag 14-16" per year. They are most often seen as rounded bushy small trees branched to the ground. Kousa grows somewhat larger and certainly more horizontal, and probably faster than the latter two. Have you considered crape myrtle, specifically 'Natchez'? It will grow relatively fast, has great bark in winter, and white flowers in early summer. It is also more heat and drought tolerant. Your climate is not all that different than MidTenn, a little colder in winter, probably just as hot in summer, although quite a bit drier overall. 'Natchez' does great here, as do the other three.

Thanks for the advice. Kousa may be too wide for this location.

cercis canadensis

cercis canadensis 'forest pansy'

cercis canadensis 'royal white'

cornus florida

cornus florida 'rubra'

acer griseum

Are you planning to put it in the current bed that's right next to the bb hoop? If so, you might rethink that if the hoop gets used as branches on a young tree will likely be broken.

Good point,but we are empty nesters so the bb goal rarely gets used.

Really like Daybreak M. Thanks "lacy veil". Kansas City soil is clay. We will add top soil when we start our project,but wondering how sensitive magnolias are to soil composition i.e. Acidic? Should I get the soil tested first? Seems like there are a lot of magnolias in kc.

Check out arborday.org, they have all the info you will need for an informed decision !