The Japanese Tree Lilac will flower much later (late June/early July around here), which IMO is a definite plus. Serviceberry is lovely, but its one of the first trees to flower and only lasts about a week. Its nice to have a tree flowering when there's not much else going on, and I'd be inclined to leave the JTL.

Bob

Hey thanks...I did not realize they bloomed at such different times and I certainly didn't realize the lilac was pretty much a summer bloomer. That is a plus. Maybe I will leave it.

Related to privet and smells the same in flower, this may become the most important point after you have tried to use the patio with this in bloom. Depends on what you think of the smell.

No, it doesn't smell like most other lilacs. It has the heavily sweet, vaguely fishy odor of a privet.

Oh my...fishy sounds horrendous. I can barely stand the hint of fish when I'm preparing it and that is rarely. Anyone else think it stinks?

Never mind Ron, he had a bad experience with this tree when he was young. ;) Its true it doesn't smell like the heavenly Syringa vulgaris, but to my prominent sniffer its not nearly odiferous as the overpowering and nauseating privet. JTL does not waft and I actually find it to be mildly fragrant (like most of the Syringa hybrids). Way too nice of a tree not to plant because of this IMHO.

Coco Channel

Jacobson, North American Landscape Trees (1996, Ten Speed Press):

odor powerful

Sunset, Western Garden Book (2007, Sunset Publishing):

musky-scented

Thomas, Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos (1992, Sagapress/Timber Press):

well scented, though of a privet persuasion

From my days working at a retail garden center, this tree was always popular once it started blooming. People would come in and ask what the white blooming tree is. When I told them it was a lilac, they would often comment on how they love the smell of lilacs. Since the store had several out in the parking lot landscaping, I would send them out there to smell it. I would estimate the results being about 50/50 of those whole liked it to those who didn't.

I'd agree with Mr. Jacobson that the flowers are "musky-scented," but not "muskie-scented." Some may like the fragrance, some not. The key distinction between privet and JTL is strength of fragrance (i.e. wafting). My JTL is about 10' from our deck, and I've never heard anyone complain or comment on the scent. Besides, musk is good.

Here is a link that might be useful: Musk you ask

Smell is of course a matter of personal taste. I have a good sized Daphne odora which many folks rave about in terms of scent. I personally find it way too astringent for my tastes and will probably eventually remove it for that reason. At the very least, I will cut it down by about a third this year.

To revert to your original post, if you want another spring-flowering, small tree of a different color - redbud, crabapple (some are white flowered), Flowering cherry, etc. - would be a good substitute. Fringe tree is another one, but IS white flowering, and is late to leaf out. Hawthorns (some are native and some European or hybrids) do have white flowers for the most part - some have red - but the red fruits are interesting, and some have good fall foliage - being members of the rose family, they can get common rose family diseases, including fire blight, and they do have thorns.

If you want a summer flowering tree, then there are possibly one of the hardier crape myrtles, stewartias (possibly not hardy), franklinias, and a few others - some of which will also have white flowers. You might also be able to grow and limb up a Peegee hydrangea, although the weight of the blooms will bow down the branches to a degree. If you can find one, a sourwood is summer-flowering, whitish and come in July-Oct., with good fall foliage.

Virginia Witch hazel flowers in the fall, with yellow flowers - there are hybrids with European varieties, which might be hardy for you, in orange to red colors, that flower in early spring. Fall foliage is yellow.

Small magnolia or crabapple might be best choice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Deciduous Trees for Ohio

Cornelian Cherry (not a cherry but a dogwood) has very early yellow flowers (blooms before serviceberry), as does the closely related Japanese Cornel Dogwood. If you like the idea of the tree lilac for its late season of bloom, look for ÂBeijing Gold  flowers are a "primrose yellow" (light yellow) rather than white.

Heptacodium miconioides is a small tree with fragrant white flowers in late summer followed by a long show of red calyxes. The exfoliating bark is also interesting. A great choice.

Hi,

Is Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana var. virginiana) self-fertile; or are two required for fruits/berries?

Thanks,
Steve

You could plant another magnolia. Any of the little girl series of magnolias stay smaller. Magnolias Daybreak & Rosemarie are a very nice pink and Coral lake is a coral color. All 3 are a little later than most pinks so they may be less prone to being hit by late frost. Daybreak stays very narrow.

If you want something different check out The Yellowwood selection called 'Perkins Pink' or 'Pink Chimes' Styrax David

Does anyone have any experience with this tree? I live in SoCal and want an evergreen tree that is not a cypress, juniper, or oak. The Primrose tree was the only flowering evergreen I could find. Are the pods really a big problem?

Redbud is really nice both flowers and bark, I also love white or pink dogwood. You might want to rethink the magnolia family tree, they are terrible to clean up after both in blossoms and leaf trash! Tulip poplar gets large over the years, but has pretty blossoms and attractive leaves and bark. No matter what you do, don’t get a Gingko tree, when it blossoms and more importantly when it sheds it’s berries it is the most foul smelling tree there is, smells like vomi!

HU and a bunch of numbers.....this thread is 11 years old. I kinda think the OP has probably already planted and enjoyed whatever tree they chose for at least 10 years :-)

btw, most named ginkgos are male clones....and are excellent garden additions.