My Katsura was diseased so we had to cut it down this year. Sad. I have seen one near here that was very, very large. My Japanese tree lilac does well in a fairly shaded site near oak tree roots. I'm sure it could perform better if it were sited more appropriately, however, during its "on" year it does bloom quite nicely. I have found these trees bloom every other year with spotty bloom during the off years.

We water regularly, so unfortunately while I have a variety of ornamental trees in my gardens, I can't give you any advice on what trees might truly be drought tolerant. Sorry to hear about your Cercis. What a terrible hot, dry summer this has been.

Have you thought about a variegated kousa dogwood at all? They seem to do well in New England and make a nice statement in the garden. I'm pretty sure those are fairly drought tolerant.

Oxydendrum is a great tree and I'm not sure why it's not offered around here more. I know of two large trees where I do not believe there is any supplemental watering (one at a closed down place of business) and they are both doing fine this summer.

I think fringetree might also be fairly drought tolerant. I can smell this tree from all over my yard when it is in bloom.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

The kousa dogwood has about the same drought tolerance as does the Ivory Silk - not much :-)

I'd be somewhat cautious about planting fringe tree as I've read it's susceptible to emerald ash borer.

Thanks, all, for your thoughts. Thyme2Dig, do you know what disease your Katsura had?

Size-wise, I could go large, but I had been thinking of it as the edge of the woodland, so a good spot for an understory tree. But I do love the smell of Katsura in the fall.

But -- I've head the Japanese lilac has a phenomenal scent when it blooms in the Spring...

I'm also thinking of transplanting a halesia from another spot in the garden. I've given it virtually no water this year and it looks happy and healthy, so I know it can handle the drought. Do you have any experience with Halesia 'UConn' (?)?

Thank you so much for helping me sort thru my thoughts....

I have several Halesia 'UConn Wedding Bells' that were liners (rooted cuttings), planted something like 10 years ago. Here they have severe die-back in difficult winters if not in a sheltered position, and resprout from roots in a messy shrub form, but I don't think that would be an issue for you. Open grown plants grow much faster than the one in full shade. I don't have ones in part shade.