Thanks, everyone! Donna, thanks for sharing your experience with the Pagoda Dogwood! I actually also have a dogwood shrub (Elegantissima) near this area, with very similar light exposure. The Elegantissima is doing very well there, so I suspect that if I did get a Pagoda Dogwood, then it may be OK. Anyway, I went to the local nursery today and got a price credit for the poor Showy Mountain Ash. Since I got the credit, if I want to keep this tree, it is OK! So perhaps I should just keep it for another season.... what do you think? Otherwise, I saw the following there that should work well for this area: - Amur Maple tree form - Amur Maple clump - I think this is lovely! - Pagoda Dogwood - but it is tiny in a small pot only - Tartarian Maple Hot Wings (in a pot) - Tartarian Maple Rugged Beauty (caliper size) - Ohio Buckeye The tree guy there suggested that I might consider an Ohio Buckeye. Now, this one does have some interesting leaves! If I don't keep the tree, then I am leaning towards the Amur Maple clump or the Ohio Buckeye. What do you think? I should probably check out the other nurseries too... Thanks again!

We had a mountain ash, not sure what variety, the top of it was higher than our roof. I have no idea how old it was. We took it down because it had hail damage and dead branches on the inside. Below is a photo of it before. There are some in my neighborhood that are smaller, not sure how old they are.

I like all those plants as far as attracting wild-life and being ornamental. Like Dan, I prefer a mix so you have a wider window of interest and so that if one type of plant becomes susceptible to a disease or bug, you don't lose the entire row. If you have somewhere that's at least part sun and of ordinary moisture, cranberries make a great evergreen groundcover - no fuss and spreading without being aggressive.

I've decided as a matter of policy to preserve my sanity, I'm not going to respond to posts like this that do not indicate the region of the country where the problem is occurring. But mainegrower is correct, many species of Sorbus are difficult or impossible to grow in places with hot & humid summers, and prone to root rot. That's what I would think happened here too, given the general description of the quick decline and the pictures. That being said I don't consider myself an expert on plant disease and wouldn't rule out fire blight...I had a Sorbus alnifolia which should have been able to grow for me - with respect to phytophthora resistance, but I got tired of the random branches turning red and dying, which I assumed was fire blight. It kept sprouting from the roots for years, which you certainly wouldn't expect of a root rot (phytophthora) infestation! IF ONLY rhododendrons that get it could resprout from the roots ,but they don't. The roots are what's mainly dying, that's why it's called root rot of course. (they target different areas as mainegrower said, but ultimately most of them finish off the roots) The elephant in the room at the moment, though, is they are not commonly sold in places where they are likely to fail. At least that I've seen. (didn't stop me from ordering a few from PNW nurseries over the years! I'm now trying a Chinese species that might be promising)