I have a Jane Magnolia and a Dancing Peacock Maple that need to be planted, but dismissed them for this spot due to (1) too much wind for Magnolia and (2) too much sun for the maple.

I also like Stewartia Pseudocamellia (sp?), but believe it can't handle afternoon sun? The nursery told me Redbud can't handle the spot.

Sorry if this is too much info...

Actually, it isn't enough info.

There really have been a lot of posts lately that aren't including state/region/where in the world people are information. It's shorthand for general levels of precipitation, wind, soil conditions, humidity, summer heat, pest prevalence and a whole bunch of other things that could be spelled out but are much harder to specify.

I agree that the spot is too close to the house for a crabapple. Since not everyone will read the other thread, tell a little bit also about what you want for this site (in terms of looks, etc.).

I know you're in zone 5, but what state/area?

I'll go ahead and say this before everyone else does, any landscaper that suggests that a Bradford Pear would be a good choice for your beautiful lawn is a landscaper you don't want to take advice from. A nursery owner loses all credibility by making that statement. Ok, moving on...
I agree with you on the crabapple...not a good place for it. Up close to the house, you want something that maintains nice, clean foliage all season long. I see too many crabapples that look bad by late summer due to hot sun, drying winds, a little bit of Japanese beetle damage, a little bit of leaf spot or scab, etc. Plus, in my opinion, crabapples don't age well. I think at about 15 years they start going downhill in there appearance, especially for a prime spot like the corner of your porch.
Another key piece of info needed is how far is the spot from the edge of the porch/house? It looks to be maybe 10', but it's difficult to tell from this angle. That will dictate a lot of your options. Would you be willing to extend that bed out so you could plant just a little farther from the house, and possibly get a medium sized tree instead of something small?

My profile used to say zone 5 ME, I just noticed it says just Z5 now. Sorry.

I'm on the border of zone 5b/6a (I generally plant for zone 5, and take a chance on some zone 6 perennials), in the southern-most area of Maine about 3 miles inland from the ocean. The house faces east, so the tree is on the north east corner. Full sun. The wind generally comes down a hill from the north (across the open yard). The spot where the tree is, is 12' from the house, I could move it out further for the right tree, but I don't want a 40' wide tree there.

The native soil has quite a bit of clay, but when we built the beds last year we removed quite a bit and brought in sand and loam with compost. That garden you see there was planted less than one year ago. I have a Bloodgood Maple in another bed in the back yard (the northwest corner of the house) that gets the same wind and is doing well, also planted last year.

Pests...well, I have Japanese Beetles I'm handpicking off a rose bush and a hybiscus. I don't have any lilies, but if I did have them I'd have lily leef beetles on them. No Gypsy Moths in this area that I know of. I can't think of anything else.

Humidity...typical New England, summers can be humid, but it's not as bad as, say, Boston (the average high in July is 83). We get maybe 5 days a summer above 90. I just looked up the precipitation, we get between 3.4 and 4.8 inches per month. May-September is just under 4" per month.

I want an ornamental tree, I know it sounds cliche, but this is a prominent position in the yard (and from the street), so I want something pretty. Except in bloom, I don't really think of Crabapples as pretty. I also considered Kwanzan Cherry, but I was told they can split in windy locations. I'd like something that will reach 20', but won't exceed 30'. The current spot was chosen for the size the Aurora Dogwood would have reached, but I can move the spot out to accomodate a tree that will get wider than 20' (there aren't any pipes or anything in the way).

I appreciate the help, let me know if you need anything else. If you go to the album you can see lot more pics of what the site looks like.

If I recall, the center of the root ball was centered 12' off the corner of the porch (planning for a dogwood that would get 20' wide). I can move that out.

I think a Japanese Lilac (Ivory silk) would be good there also. Sourwood also comes to mind. I'm looking at a Blackhaw Viburnum for a neighbor, from what I've learned so far it might work for you also. Often times it grows as a shrublike,small tree I believe. Grows up to 15' tall, dark green leaves with white flowers in early spring.

There are hundreds of kinds of flowering crabapple trees, including multiple small-growing selections. The arching branches of the maturing specimen of many would be just the thing for the corner of a building, much more suitable than the more erect and/or stiff branching of many other kinds of popular trees including magnolias, various Japanese flowering cherries, flowering pears etc. With intelligent variety selection you can get small growth, disease resistance, conspicuous flowers and long-lasting, decorative fruits all in one crab. Some kinds may have presentable fruits left from the previous year when again in flower.

Japanese tree lilac stinks in flower, I would never consider that for an intimate area. If you don't appreciate the sweetish, heavy (fishy) odor of privet blossoms tree lilac is not for you. Likewise flowering pears - at least the equally malodorous orchard pear produces a useful and appealing edible fruit.

It is true that many flowering crabs have a bumblebee flower smell in bloom, in other words similar to that of hawthorn, cotoneaster, firethorn and other rose family plants. But to me the smell of these is not as intrusive as that of tree lilac and flowering pear. And some flowering crabs are actually fragrant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Round Table Series

I don't know if I've ever smelled a lilac tree or a privet in flower. Is the location where this tree would go really "intimate"? Maybe the porch location makes it so. Sigh. I looked at the link with all the crab apples. Unfortunately, I know the largest nurseries near us do not carry anywhere near that large an assortment.

I really want something that will get to 20'. But that seems like a shot in the dark. According to many websites a Pee Gee Hydrangea Tree will get to 25', but I have never seen one that size and they are EVERYWHERE here.

The Sourwood seems very nice, but it seems it is very slow growing if grown in full sun.

I agree with bboy that a crabapple would be lovely. Few trees are as pretty when they flower and it would be the size you are looking for. Also, you certainly have the space to move it a little further from the house and ours are pretty even after flowering. Some develop quite interesting multiple trunks that would look great near the corner of your porch. We loved to climb on the lower limbs/trunks which on one at home when I was young. If you can find one you like online, a local landscaper or nursery should be able to get it for you.

Sue, I just found this thread, and I am having the exact same dilemma (deciding between the exact trees.... in the exact same spot for my house.)

What did you decide? I currently discounted the dogwood (too risky) and the crabapple (too messy) and the Hydrangea (too short and too overdone here too...)

Now about the Japanese tree lilac.... Did you end up going with it? Does it really smell that bad?

No, I haven't made a decision. Most of the nurseries are having sales now so stock is pretty wiped out for mid-size trees (still lot of tiny ones and larger ones). I am likely going to wait until spring to purchase something.

I don't know if I have ever smelled a Lilac Tree. I have read on here that some people don't like the smell, but I don't know if I've ever been close enough to one.

I think the Dogwood is a beatiful tree, but they are apparently more difficult to transplant as they get larger, and I think my full sun windy spot was just too much. I will eventually plant one near the woodline in a more protected spot, and I'll start with a smaller tree.

Most nurseries will be getting new stock for the fall season here soon. Nurseries around here put their spring and summer stock on sale and try to clear it out before the fall stock arrives. Almost all trees will benefit from a fall planting as opposed to spring. If you plant this fall, next spring it will be more comfy in it's spot with some roots set and have a healthier summer.
As far as the Japanese Lilacs, I don't think the smell is bad. I guess it's a personal thing on what is a bad smell or not. I think a callery pear has a bad smell, but to me, the lilac is a much different smell. Not necessarily an odor I would spray inside my house, lol; but a smell that is fine, just different.

A sourwood tree would be quite lovely there. Just be certain to get a well trained one with a trunk that is is at least 1 inch thick and that has good lateral branch structure as well as a nice mainleader trunk. Sourwoods grow slowly, turn the nicest red color that rivals most hardwood shade trees and the flowers are nice also.