FWIW, in milder parts of the pacific northwest, some of the weeping willows will retain their leaves until rather late in the year and get them back fairly early---IOW, a long leafy period so as other folks mentioned well watered willows in an even milder climate might behave as essentially evergreens.

We've planted the tree and it appears to be happy about that. I removed all the dead branches and no more branches have died. As lazygardens noted above, it may simply have needed to get out of that nursery pot. I want to update the group on the news flash that someone from the shade tree program contacted me yesterday. She was very concerned and asked lots of questions. I showed her the picture now that it's planted and she agreed it looks like it's doing okay. She emphasized the need to get these trees planted as soon as possible. Trees are not meant to grow in black nursery pots. She also told me tree replacement is always a possibility but depends on individual situations. For example, if a person leaves the tree in the container all winter, fails to water it, etc, no tree replacement. They want this program to succeed but, as in all of life, there is a certain amount of personal responsibility involved. Picture's not that great so fwiw I'll attach it.

Don't plant a Magnolia if you're worried about mess. Someone planted one 50 years ago next to our pool. It is absolutely beautiful and give great shade to the south side of the house, BUT it is very, very messy. The large leaves drop all year, heaviest in the spring, and they take years to decompose. In the summer the beautiful flowers drop bud sheaths and then petals. Later in fall, heavy cones drop and bring tons of squirrels who pull them apart after the seeds and leave a mess everywhere. Plus the cones are kinda spiky, painful if you accidentally step on one, plus a tripping hazard. So yes, a beautiful majestic tree...for the outer edges of a property, not near a patio. You have been warned, lol. The Africarpus gracilior is a pretty good choice, they do get huge with age, but are fast and pretty clean, and handle heat and soil compaction well. Josue Diaz's suggestion of Brachychiton populneus is a good choice too, lovely tree, too tender for where I am, but should do great for you. Stan's suggestion of a Tristaniopsis laurina is a good one too, but pretty slow growing. If you want shade soon, I'd get the largest one you can find. It will be expensive, but save you several years waiting. I love Ficus microcarpa (Indian Laurel)! Beautiful tree, gorgeous white smooth trunk! I just got back from visiting my daughter in San Luis Obispo and the downtown streets are lined with them and they're very majestic. Do be aware that they can get very large buttress roots with age, but if you give them lots of root room near the patio, but not right next to or in the patio, they should be fine.

Hey jenni, thanks for the advice. As you can probably telI I know nothing about gardening. I'm probably leaning towards a disease more than age only because I'm guessing they were all planted at the same time and as you say they should all look similar. I've included some close ups so someone might be able to possibly identify the plant. Curious what they actually are. At some stage in the near future I'm left with that awkward decision when to cull them\rip them out and start again, probably with something more hardy and dense foliage like syzygium australe. I've done some good things with this plant as a screen in our backyard, i like the intense dense green and virtually care free once established.