I think dogwoods are supposed to be understory trees actually, but a lot of people use them as specimens. I may be wrong about this, but if the location is not somewhat sheltered, I think you may have trouble getting a dogwood to last that far north. You might want to check. I find that they say pink dogwood can make it here in zone 5/6, but that is pushing it. I have seen a few in sheltered locations (understory in-town locations that are sheltered from wind), but not here out in the windy part of town. I am even thinking that the regular white C. florida sometimes doesn't do well here. I am just going on what I have seen. I am no expert. I have no suggestions for you though. I happen to have a pagoda dogwood that is doing well out in the windy part of my yard, so who knows?

Well, C. florida is listed as a native species to this area (as are a number of other dogwood sp.), but I'm just going from the literature, I have no practical experience with them. However, considering I'm southwest of the snowbelt and the location IS fairly sheltered by suburbia, I'm thinking that the elements shouldn't be a problem.
But as I mentioned previously, I just want to make sure it's the right tree for the right reasons.
I don't want to look back and say, "if only I planted a...."

Nohandle: Exactly what I mean!! They sell them here too (the pink and the white), but I have seen people lose the pink and when I talked to a nursery, they told me that they are not hardy enough except in a sheltered location.

I do not have a sheltered location. I just buy small trees and then the investment isn't ridiculous. You do have to have patience though. I planted the pagoda a couple of years ago. I got a few in a package of dogwoods. One has done really well and that is the one that is more out in the open. I think they do like some shade from afternoon sun. I have also read they like moist, rich soil. That sounds like an understory tree to me.

vonyon...thanks for the warning.

Where exactly are you located? I just want to be able to compare our growing conditions (esp. winter).

I'm in Northeastern Massachusetts about 10 miles from the coast.

nohandle,

IÂm not sure if itÂs an issue where you are, but IÂve lost 3 of the 4 flowering dogwoods that came with the house to a disease called dogwood anthracnose. I think the 4th tree has a good chance of surviving because it gets less shade than the others did. It sounds like youÂre pursuing vonyonÂs suggestion of pagoda dogwood, but wanted to warn you just in case.

Lori

You might consider Serviceberry (Amelanchier). It gets white to pink flowers in spring followed by berries in summer(loved by birds)and many cultivars turn red in fall. It can be grown as a broad multistemmed shrub or trained to a single trunk if you prefer. It grows 15-25ft tall in full sun to part shade. It is also native to North America.
Just a thought.

Ok, after doing a little research, Serviceberry is definitely an option...very nice tree...shrub...whatever it is. Thanks for the suggestion.
However, if I also added the criteria that I would like the tree/shrub in question to provide a little privacy from the neighbour's yard, would any of the three (the two dogwoods or the Serviceberry) be a better choice? I guess one would have to take growth rate into consideration too.
Any comments?