Without getting to complicated the fact that cherries have so many disease and pest problems makes them a shorter lived species. Thats not to say if you have one growing in optimal conditions and ends up free of disease and pests your particular tree could live for 50-60 years. Its just you have lower odds of the tree ever reaching that age due to its suspectability to dieases and pests. Putting disease and pest issues aside, genetics have much to do with a potential life span...one of which is growth rate.

The redbuds are nice. Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold' or 'The Rising Sun' are great. While visiting Michigan in July, I seen Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold' first hand for the first time. I must say I never thought much of it while searching the internet. It's a nice tree! I've purchased one for fall planting. Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold' (picture taking at Duvall Nursery, Michigan) I always wanted a Robinia pseudoacacia 'Lace Lady', 'Twisty Baby' because of the cool contorted branches. Well I purchased it two years ago, and I've hated it since. I live in Southern U.S., so it may be hardier here. It grows like a weed! It grew about 4 ft in every direction the first year. I pruned it extremely hard back to the trunk. This year, it has grown 6 feet in every direction. I can handle the very aggressive growth because I enjoy pruning for shape. The main issue is the suckering. I have black locust shoots popping up 4-8 feet away from the trunk in my surrounding bed. I'm constantly removing them. Earlier in the summer, I missed a shoot from below the graft site. I was waiting until fall/winter to remove it because it was too large, and I tried to prevent making a large cut during the harsh summer conditions. Well...What a mistake! Now the shoot is a 1.5 inch caliper (almost as large as the main trunk) and 8 ft tall Robinia pseudoacacia covered with thorns extending straight up. I'm removing the tree this fall! I think it might be larger than what you're looking for. Other slow growing maple considerations Acer pseudoplatanus 'Esk Sunset' Acer campestre 'Carnival'

I am with you guys. Thank you very much. It was my ignorance to think that the tree itself would turn into a proper tree "form", when I got the seedling one and a half years ago. I could have complained about it to the nursery, for it had one year warranty. However, the tree has been getting messy and messier. Now, I cannot complain it to the nursery, for it's over a year. No matter what now, I don't wish to get rid of this tree. It is a messy abnormal weeping cherry, unlike anything in an ad picture that the nursery used. However, it is a life, especially it is growing pretty well, except Japanese beetles bothering it. If I can do anything to try to train the tree, I would and will, even with only the slightest chance to make it into anything close to a tree form. I want it to be the average height, much higher than 6 ft, I assume. Since I don't prune trees much, I don't remember how to properly prune a tree. However, I have some books handy, and I can always read the pruning sections when I need it. If you have any suggestions of pruning, please advice me. Actually, I was a little confused about how to prune a tree to make it grow the direction I want. If I were to get rid of one of the trunks, how do I make the remaining one straight? neither one grows straight; they pretty much grow in a 45 degree angle....I cannot anticipate how the only trunk would grow "side way" without the other. At least now, they both depart from the center, and they kind of balance out on each other. I am a little afraid of the result once I dare doing something. However, I really really really want a TREE looking tree. People have asked me what it is the strange looking THING. I feel embarrassed somewhat. I want a TREE

Haven't been to this forums lately but I found this question so I thought I'd add to it, because I found so little information on them online when I was first learning about them. I'm in Central Austin in the city and I have 10 Barbados Cherry trees lining our back fence. They were planted at least 15 years ago by a previous homeowner. Some winters they have lost their leaves; in our warmer winters they've been evergreen. Right now they all have dead leaves just hanging off their branches from the freezes this month; this happened overnight, but I'm hoping they return. In case anyone's curious... these can take a very hard pruning if you want a fuller shape. They can grow quite tall - up to 15 feet - or act more like a 7-foot bushy trees. They make for a nice screen against our fence. I've been experimenting a bit but learned the hard way about pruning. Last spring they'd gotten so overgrown that I went at them with my loppers. I pruned in mid-March and shortly after we had a few frosts. One of the trees, which I pruned back very hard, had begun to put out some new leaves and branches, but the frost killed the tender growth and with it the tree. So they are probably best pruned in the summer or at least with enough time for the growth to harden before any frosts--at least in my zone. The rest of the trees survived my early pruning and were amazing all summer--full of leaves and flowers, and especially beautiful from September to November. As Janie mentioned, they have a weeping habit, which looks gorgeous against a fence. However, they did need some soaker hosing several times this summer because of the drought. I wish I knew what variety I have but they are older. In any case, I'd keep them protected until they are established. It seems like they survive quite well here in Austin. North of here they may have some trouble.