It's one of the shrub dogwoods such as Cornus amomum or something similar.

Try checking out the Maryland natives site: http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/nativesMD/pdf/MD-Piedmont.pdf If you aren't in the piedmont, they have a mountain zone or coastal zone list as well. We are zone 7 in northern VA and have many of the same natives. I have currants, Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel-evergreen), Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay Magnolia-evergreen), Ilex opaca (American Holly-evergreen), Amelanchier canadensis (serviceberry-deciduous), Virburnum dentatum (southern arrowood-decid.), Decumaria barbara (native climbing hydrangea), vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry-need two different to cross-pollinate-I have Jersey and Hannah's Choice), native azaleas (deciduous), and pysocarpus opulfolius (common ninebark). I tried pines, but found them to be poor barriers/screeners, although mixed with other plants they are pretty and feathery. I decided that the screening was most needed for only three seasons, so I have a variety of trees (oaks, river birch,redbud, and native dogwood) and shrubs which offer depth and great screening when I need it. Lots of food and habitat for the birds, also. Hope this helps some. And do check out the website-lots of good information there! Cynthia

Nice place! Talk to as many "nurserymen" as you can on this along with studying whatÂs posted here. My concern about your situation is a desire for a multi-tasker. You might end up making so many compromises to get that one plant that will do both, it wonÂt do both to your satisfaction. Look at all the options for a good muti-tasker. Then look at the options for a good screen planting. Then look at the options for a security shrub. Make a decision based on what really important to you and what will fit that role. This may be oversimplified but if you want security, get a dog. I would much prefer a good screen tree like Cupressocyparis leylandii or Leyland Cypress. Craig Evans, our local extension agent, writes this about L. C. Use: Ornamental and screen Mature width: 15-25Â Hardiness Zone: 6-10 General Shape: Open pyramidal form Mature Height: 30-60Â Growth Rate: Rapid Needles: Scale-like, most common cultivar is rich green Cultural Notes: Full-sun, prefers better soils although tolerant of poorer sites with drainage; extremes in ph and salty sites; purchase as a 1-5 gallon container rather than B & B. Pests; No major; tip-burn in the winter with extreme changes, gets a few bagworms Best Traits; incredible growth rate; dense foliage; beautiful form; good color year-round Negative features; tip-burn, but this is easily removed by hand while wearing a pair of leather gloves randy Here is a link that might be useful:

treebarb, I've been in love with Abies concolor for decades; have never owned one. I'll go peek at Lowe's. We haven't made a decision yet, family stuff in Florida happened and we just returned home. Do you think the shallow roots would be a problem? We don't want it falling over in the wind and hitting the house (but of course on a 3-foot Lowe's tree we'd not have to worry about that for a while)! The neighbor's trees are not any wind protection. One is at the very front of her house and the other smaller juniper is between our houses. The prevailing winds are straight up the slope much of the time, so whoever's out back is going to have to withstand 50+ up to highest measured at 76 mph. Doesn't happen all the time, of course, but I'd say 20% of the year at least. I just looked up Bosnian pine: "tolerant of severe wind exposure". I like its looks online, and it sounds like the ticket to me. Thanks for your helpfulness. I very much appreciate it.