Linden

Desired mature size? Site conditions? Other relevant details, like visual preferences?

I came here to say Linden, too!

For a small tree, Sucker Punch Canada Red chokecherry. I love the way this tree smells for about two weeks!

There's actually a specific, separate variety 'Canada Red'* so it's potentially confusing (and it would seem technically incorrect) to use that as a common name in combination with the Sucker Punch registered trademark.

*Sport of 'Schubert' registered 1979, selected, introduced by Bailey nursery, St. Paul, MN

Embo - can you please type it correctly for me, please?

Prunus virginiana Sucker Punch ('P002')

vs.

Prunus virginiana 'Canada Red'

with 'P002' and 'Canada Red' being the respective cultivar names (unless 'Canada Red' has been converted to a trademark at some point along the way)

Xanthoceras sorbifolium

check this one out:http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a770

https://www.gardenia.net/plant/styrax-obassia-fragrant-snowbell

I didn’t know X. sorbifolium was fragrant, but I think its fruit is also edible. Here’ a shot of one (with my BIL, Dennis) at Hornbaker Nursery ouside of Princeton, IL.

My Xanthoceras has no fragrance whatsoever. Why not a deciduous magnolia? Or if late frosts are a problem, a Heptocodium with fragrant summer bloom, lots of pollinizers, long calyx show after the bloom and gorgeous bark.

Embothrium asked above “Desired mature size? Site conditions? Other relevant details, like visual preferences”.

All these questions need to be answered before really useful suggestions can be made. ‘A tree’ doesn’t tell us enough about what’s desired.

The OP says they’re thinking tree instead of bush so I suppose we can assume they’re after something relatively small, unlike a linden.

If you had a maple I’m thinking you’re looking for a larger tree? A picture of the location would be very helpful.

Typically I wouldn’t recommend selecting a tree based on it’s fragrance as there’s not a lot of options for the Midwest.

Select a tree based on it’s all season appeal. Then plant fragrant shrubs which are much more readily available

seven son flower might be a good option but considered a smaller tree/large shrub depending on how you prune it. Flowers come at a more unusual time when much else is blooming

Yeah whaas with my limited knowledge the midwestern plant palette, seven son was the only thing that came to mine.

The tree lilacs are very hardy but fragrance is either described as light, or not pleasant. In either case not like S. vulgaris.

They smell like privet