Wow - excellent comparison. I finally got a copy of the picture of the terminal buds. They are different from Q. lyrata. Three things - the bark (yeah, I know, another picture that we should have provided) is more like that of pin oak. The majority of the leaves tend to get thinner toward the end, not wider, and very few have the triple-lobed terminus (a few do, but really, very few). I realize that this is a guessing game, but appreciate all tries as this has been an anomaly for several years! Appreciate all guesses. Can't afford DNA analysis! hortster Here is a link that might be useful:

Thanks all. Some very good points raised, and questions asked. I think that to provide necessary context for this project-and whaas, you'll totally get this-the absolute number-one issue is buckthorn. Before we even pick up a shovel, we have to decide if we're going to try to tackle that issue, and if so, how. We're looking into grant money as I know this is an expensive proposition. And my son, of whom I'm very proud, runs his own software business and simply could never find the time to tackle this on his own, or even with the old man's help. Then on to the trees, the fun part. I am very intrigued by the AF comments. I may have to re-evaluate. I've said it here before but AB is def. not a plant-it-and-forget-it tree. Maybe in semi-shade in amongst other trees, it might actually behave a little better, but you all know how bad the v-crotches, included bark, etc can be with this cultivar. So, if AF is even just a bit better in that regard, it would be worth it. Can't remember if I said this already, but the real prize will be if we ever get the site in sufficiently manageable condition for some native conifers, most notably tamarack and N. white cedar. But of course, for those to amount to anything, we need sunlight! Given the preponderance of green ash already here, many of them in poor condition, openings can and will be made. In the meantime, and because there's so much shade, my mind drifted to maples. The site being utterly unsuited to sugar maple, I went to freemanii. And truth be told, there's a dearth of red fall color, so any that we could add would be an aesthetic bonus. Thanks for the nice and useful comments. This thread is turning out better than I thought it might! +oM

Locally written articles featuring local specimens. Plant of the Month: June 2002 Banana Shrub; Michelia Figo http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-Jun02.html Plant of the Month: December 2009 Yellow Lily-Tree Magnolia Ernestii Figlar 2000 http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-Dec09.html See also under MAGNOLIA relatives on page 244 of his 2006 book Trees of Seattle - Second Edition where he gives brief species descriptions, locations and sizes of local examples listed under their previous names of Manglietia chingii, fordiana and insignis, Michelia doltsopa, figo, maudiae and wilsonii, and Parakmeria lotungensis. If are actually interested in the comparatively small parted michelia types such as Magnolia figo for this project one of the upright growing, tree shaped named selections of M. laevifolia (Michelia yunnanensis, Magnolia dianica) such as 'Inspiration' that are currently present in the local marketplace (seen a few weeks ago at Swanson's, for instance, and more recently at Christianson's) could be the ticket. >There are some very long established and big specimens in older Seattle neighborhoods, likely D.D. Banchard< Blanchard ('D. D. Blanchard') wasn't noticed until the 1960s, with large scale production not being underway until 1980. The tallest Seattle example recognized and listed (with measurements) by Jacobson (same) was only 16 1/2 ft. tall at the time (likely 2004-5). Whereas he recorded nine other M. grandiflora there - some of them probably unnamed seedlings - 38 ft. to 46 1/2 ft. tall. >Edith Bogue is also a popular choice< I don't see that many of those here, and snow stripped all the side branches off a small one I had going in a sheltered nook on Camano Island. I would say by far of the more recently planted named forms 'Little Gem' was the most prevalent. Breakage under the weight of snow, foliage mildew and cold tenderness and all. Jacobson (same, pages 231-2) includes Blanchard, 'Little Gem' ("Becoming very popular lately"), Majestic Beauty, Russet, Samuel Sommer, 'St. Mary' and 'Victoria'. Most, if not effectively all of the M. grandiflora selections presented to us here these days are being trucked up from Monrovia. Of those they are offering at this time I like the 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' the best. It looks more like a normal tree than most M. grandiflora that I see here. I tried a small Alta on Camano and it froze there. The real estate office at the Camano Plaza has had a 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' for at least several years in a windy position and it is still holding up. http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/search/?query=magnolia+grandiflora

Have a look at these pictures for screening ideas. DD Blanchard they say 12 foot centers and that mature size is bigger than Kay Parris. Would you consider staggering them? You get more depth that way... https://www.plantsfordallas.com/blog/2015/10/4/5-best-plants-for-privacy-screening