cheryl, Yeah, and look at those average temperatures, combined with a more intense sun due to a lower sun angle. Also note that it is very common for July/August to be nearly rainless, or occur on one or two days for this location. For example I got 5.25" here last July.......... all on one day. Was almost 8 weeks before I got significant rain again, and it had been almost a month before the 5.25". Averages don't tell the whole story. Also click the link below for a more complete story of the averages. Note the 90 average high for weeks in July/August, and the very low "average" daily precipitation, but when it does rain it's often heavy, raising the "average". Plus that does not preclude that last summer was VERY hot and VERY dry, and my paperbark did fabulously in FULL sun which is what I am basing my POV on. I was dryer than the Fayetteville reporting station last summer. Check out last July: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/f6/f6.php?siteName=Drake_Field_Fayetteville_Arkansas&month=Jul&year=2010 And August: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/f6/f6.php?siteName=Drake_Field_Fayetteville_Arkansas&month=Aug&year=2010 Again north Virginia is cooler, lower sun angle, and regular precipitation with OP saying they water when dry. End result more friendly to a paperbark in direct sun that where I'm sitting. I was not trying to start and argument, however, the reality is what it is. Arktrees Here is a link that might be useful: Fayetteville Ar

I immediately thought of Rhus typhina -- fits your shape and size expectations, although it can get taller -- does sucker some but they're easily kept in control. It's more of a large shrub than small tree but has a nice small tree look. An underused native plant, in my opinion, but for whatever reason it's not that popular. It grows fast so would fill in your area quickly, has a spread about as wide as tall, and has a nice umbrella shape. I like the ones with multiple trunks but it can be easily trained to one. The cutleaf form has a more delicate look although I really like the structure and bold texture of the species. I like the strong winter structure, too, and it has great fall color. There's also a yellow foliage variety ('Tiger Eyes') that is supposed to not sucker much at all but I believe it also stays smaller than you might want (not sure about mature height but I believe it's shorter). Sumac isn't everyone's cup of tea, however, and if you don't want to deal with suckers at all it's not for you. Japanese maples are great and I'm sure you could find one for your spot. The big disadvantage will be the slow rate of growth. The ones that stay small tend to grow much slower than the ones that are taller so it might be awhile before it fills in as much as you want. I'm always keeping my eyes open for smaller trees, since our yard isn't that big, so I'll be interested to see what else others come up with. Have fun chosing!

Hello, everyone, A year ago I moved into an 1870's cottage in Little Rock. The front yard (holding to old Southern nomenclature for now) is already a pretty, highly traditional (if predictable) azalea, dogwood, oak mix, but the back is a mess with some nice plants. It already divides fairly naturally into three areas. I'm going to follow my longwinded predisposition and describe the whole space before getting to my questions, which mainly apply to the third, quite shady area north of the house, which will be a woodland areas focusing on natives and bird habitat. 1. The first spot is tiny, about 12' square just north of the garage. The garage is a separate outbuilding west of the house, and I'm turning it into a pottery, so gardening-unlike myself-is on a no fat diet for now. Bamboo, an unknown tree, loropetalum, and a non-blooming biggish crepe myrtle grow there now. The crepe myrtle is on the property line opposite the garage, and makes a natural division into the next area, I plan to stay with all dark foliage and blue and pink bloomers back here. 2. in the central portion, I cut down two sassafras trees (to which my neighbors objected and for which I had no love). This made a sunny area. This is 35 feet wide at one end and 25 the other (where the deck cuts in), and about 50 feet long. Here, I want roses and other sun lovers in the broader, full sun space. The narrower portion is partly shaded by a large unidentified tree that butts up to the deck and is midway between the house and the garage. The narrower space ends where a magnolia grandiflora stands just west of a large crepe myrtle. Almost buried behind the trash trees among broken furniture was a lovely wrought iron, gothic arch. I've moved that so that it bisects this sunny section of the yard from area 3., which is almost full, but not deep shade, as it lies on the north wall of the house. Steps come down from the deck across from the crepe myrtle. To the left of the steps, a small fishpond sits off a picture window in the sunroom. The pond is currently uninhabited due to Beelzebub the raccoon, who ate the previous tenants last winter. The pond needs a total. face lift and has to be deepened before restocking. However, my desk is by that window and, even in it's ugly as-is state, you talk about bird watching heaven! I LOVE it! So re-camping that little pool is where the largest pot of my broke-ass garden-dedicated pesos are headed this round. OK, so now you'll pass under the arch into 3., a small (25' L x 15' W?) woodland garden. At present this area has 2 small redbuds, a pretty 10 foot Enlish holly, a lot of spindly nandina, a multitude of evil-minded vicious, but well-grown Rotunda holliies, and the a/c condensers. Opposite the house is a 6' fence. I thought I could put in 2-3 native shrubs and some vines here. On the other side against the house, I want to replace the Rotundas with mix of camellias and natives. So I finally get to the question, what should I plant, hoping for 4 season interest?

If the spot is not too dark (bright indirect light or a bit of morning or late afternoon sun) one suggestion is a japanese maple. If you really like variegated leaves, there are several variegated japanese maples. The one I am familiar with is Butterfly which only grows 8' to 10' tall with an upright shape. I grow mine under a large crabapple in a spot with only late afternoon sun and, with watering during dry spells, it is very happy and turns interesting pink, purple shades in the fall.