Thanks, basic! I sure do like them! I'm contemplating replacing my viburnum dentatum row and replacing it with these. Interesting to note that nearly all of the individuals I encountered in the woods were single stemmed. I did come across one in the open and it was more multi stemmed than the ones in shade. Weird. And OMG the smell is out of this world good...

I was going to suggest an All-In-One Almond Tree - a beautiful, flowering semi-dwarf nut tree that only grows to about 15' - but I think your state is too cold for it. http://www.willisorchards.com/product/All-In-One+Almond+Tree#.UagWmpywXLc Well, if you plant it away from the house at the outer edge of your flower bed, you MIGHT consider a native pawpaw tree (although it could grow up to 25'). It grows in a pyramidal shape and has delicious fruit! You might also consider some smaller species of persimmon trees, too? Here is a link that might be useful: Pawpaw Trees

A tree to consider is Juneberry, Amelanchier spp., although it may be too tall, eventually, with a tree form. The deciduous magnolias vary SO much in shape, I am sure you could find one - I have one of the 'Little Girl' series, which I THOUGHT was 'Jane', but am now, from flower color (deep purple), thinking is another one, maybe 'Ricki'. It is, after 7 years in the ground from a 1-gal. pot, about 10-12' tall and 4-6' wide. It is more cylindrical than vase shaped, but limbing up might help you shape one to your liking. Cornus kousa might do, with some limbing up - spend the money for a good sized one so it flowers soon. Cratagus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet', English hawthorne might do, although the thorns might work against it - and if there's any sign of rust in the area, don't plant it as it won't be pretty. If you pick a disease resistant one, a flowering crabapple could be pretty. I would stay away from most of the flowering plums (Prunus spp.) as they tend to be quite short lived and disease prone - that said, they CAN be spectacular for the weeks they are in bloom, and are about unbeatable if you should want purple foliage. Redbuds mostly get wide, as do Halesia spp., but fringe tree, CHionanthus spp., might do. I think I would also look at Stewartias and Japanese tree lilacs. Good luck.

We are in Langley BC. We are thrilled with our ornamental flowering pear, which is very vertical and a joy in the early spring (white). It is very well behaved and a terrific boulevard and shade tree. It is probably about 25 ft. now. We also have a European hornbeam and a very vertical columnar red maple (no flowers but real interesting; its branches go straight up like hat-tree hooks.) I could find some pictures if you want, or tell you the address. I do not find many of the local nurseries very conversant with this tree function. They want to market magnolias, dogwoods, and maples. In the past week I see hundreds of trees in drought shock, and not just the ones planted this year. The red maples are getting powdery mildew.