Hi again, If you are interested in some of my seeds, please give me your trade list and your email address so that I can contact you. I am not interested in SASE. I donate most of my extra seeds to my "Seeds for Classrooms" program that I arranged with the local school board and schools (6,000 pkg a couple months ago). Other extra "useful" vegetable and herb seeds get donated to disaster relief organizations. Hope to hear from you about your seeds for zone 3 hardy and interesting perennials and shrubs. Happy Gardening

I tried pulling it out, that's when it broke off. I wasn't referring to Ken in that comment, I was referring to poaky1, who it seems came back and deleted the 5 or so separate comments that they posted in a row that consisted of gibberish and very weird things. I've read that after these bloom, you should shear them back a bit prior to new season growth. That's what I meant. And from some of the comments here and googling, I'm to understand that I should have a stake for at least the first growing season to support the crown as it's a grafted tree.

Embothrium, yes, it is certainly pretty and has the shape I need, though other pictures of it I searched online also show that it can have multiple trunks. Problem is it would overwhelm the space in no time and has a pretty fast rate of growth. I am thinking of returning the Jane shrub because the rate of growth, according to the National Arboretum, is only a foot a year. I'm in my 60s now. I'd like to be able to appreciate a 'tree' now. I also don't like the big leaves. They are pretty shaped but I can just see a messy cleanup in the future. I have too much work as it is. The last thing I need is more. I would really like a lacy type tree with small leaves that allows diffused light to filter into my garden (not a shade tree), that doesn't put out seed or fruit (fruit, because of the fireblight problem). I was tending towards the flowering plum but that is also susceptible according to my cooperative extension. There is a business across the street that has over a dozen flowering pear trees and every one of them has severe fireblight. Since they are not going to take down their trees anytime soon (it would probably cost them a fortune to do so) it's best that I don't plant anything that is susceptible to that disease. I also do not want a tree that is taller than 20' X 20'. 20' wide would be pushing the limits. Any suggestions?

Thanks everyone for all these great suggestions. I have honestly googled everything that has been mentioned in this thread, learned a lot, and have canvased every major nursery in my area. Even though there are some nice nurseries here, they all are pretty much the same. Many of these suggestions are not carried and not available from the suppliers for these nurseries. The American Hornbeam sounded interesting, however only Europeans are available and is a much larger and different tree. Stewartia looked great, but once again I couldn't find a source. Could only find 1 very poor paperbark maple specimen, maybe better stock in the fall. So just because of what's readily available, I'll probably be going with a Star Magnolia, a paperbark maple, or a viburnum of some sort...maybe Burkwood, Judd, or Mohican. Yeah, may seem kinda bland but with what I got available nearby I feel one of those might be the most reliable option. I do have a question about Star magnolia...I read it is one of the most susceptible magnolias to magnolia scale. However, what are we talking when we say "susceptible"? Do i have a good change of maintaining a healthy tree for many years, or is it a forgone conclusion that within a few years I'll have to deal with that? Thanks again everyone, I got some other threads I'm going to start with more questions.