Thanks so much for the replies. The reason for the dwarf is space. I saw Teddy Bear recently and really liked the dark color of the leaves. It was standing next to Little Gem, and there wasn't much difference, though TB might have been a bit darker. I initially liked Alta because of its upright form, which would work well in my space, but from what I understand, TB and LG might also be upright? I wish I could order some of the more interesting varieties, but I want as large a size as I can afford right now, and I'm afraid shipping would be prohibitive on that. I just talked to someone today who said LG is hardy in my area. So if TB and LG are also upright like Alta, then I have 3 choices which work in terms of size and form. I just don't know how to decide among them. Is one faster growing than the others, maybe? Thanks again.

We usually don't have too much snow -- this past year we had almost none -- but we've had some years with heavy snow. The area it will be planted is fairly sheltered. I read about one grandiflora cultivar that handled snow well, but can't remember which one it was. I've seen the spring grove cultivar online -- has anyone experienced the fragrance? I'd prefer an evergreen tree but if the fragrance filled the yard, a deciduous one could be in the running. Sorry bboy, must have misinterpreted your comment re: topiary -- i see now you meant that it's more tolerant of different types of pruning. I did look at sweetbay and wondered about the fragrance. Is it strong? I saw a description of "lemony" fragrance but wasn't sure if that was accurate. I am appreciative of the recommendations for what will live in my area, and also want to make sure the tree has an enveloping, strong fragrance to perfume the yard. It is to be planted as a memorial. Lots of people successfully grow Edith Bogue and BBB in this area; are they incredibly fragrant? Kay Parris is supposed to be an even better cultivar, from what I've read, but am not finding good descriptions as to its fragrance. I know that cultivars sometimes lose the fragrance of their parents, so am hoping to find experiences with how these particular trees smell!

if i had a nickle ... MOST size estimates are at ten years ... there is ALWAYS the potential.. that at 20 years.. they can be twice as big ... nothing really stops growing at some magical height ... the key is annual growth rate .. if momma is a 200 foot tall tree.. never forget.. a dwarf of her might be ONLY 100 feet ... in a given time frame .. and the difference .. in that time frame might be.. that momma grows one foot per year.. but dwarf will grow only 6 inches per year .... back to the concept of annual growth rate ... if you were to walk up to the plant in the picture ... you ought to be able to look at the branch growth.. and see this years somewhat green bark growth .. last year semi-woody branch bark .. and the third year backs woody bark ... and in 'seeing' that... subject to it being potted [various cultural stresses] ... that is your annual growth rate ... it will NEVER be shorter than that [excluding hyper-fertilization in the nursery ].. and perhaps.. once established in mother earth.. it might be longer ... w/o the stresses of being potted.. etc ... now... given your heads propensity to grow hair.. in a given space.. lol .. [why have i not ever thought of this analogy before] ... when your hair [unlike me.. if you have any.. lol]... outgrows its given space/form/diameter...etc ... you go get it cut ... [or do it yourself] its the same with 'fitting' a plant in a given space ... but we do NOT give it a hair cut.. in the plant kingdom.. we simply learn how to prune it .. for shape and form ... and given a 15 foot space.. that would involve some selective pruning.. once a year ... its exercise.. its in the garden.. outdoors.. its therapeutic ... and its what all true.. hardcore .. gardeners do ... finally.. as the plant grows to fill a spot ... you have at least two options.. one being to shape/guide the plant ... and the alternative.. is to open the space.. by removing the other plants.. restricting the space ... because you like this plant better ... and this is where 'the art' of gardening takes over from the science ... in essence .. you were wishing the science of plant morphology.. would allow a plant to magically stop growing a fill a given space.. and i dont care how many decades you spend searching the web .. you are NOT going to find such.. and that is the root of your frustration ... now.. all that said.. plant what makes your heart go pitter/patter .... buy smaller than the one at the pic ... guide its growth as you wish ... and very frankly.. if in 10 years.. it becomes unmanageable... GET RID OF IT ... [crimminey.. if after 10 years your car sux.. you get rid of it ... so why not a given plant ...] ... step back.. define what would please you no end.. plant it.. and either learn how to manage it thru pruning.. or move on ... when it outgrows the space ... make any sense?? ken

Sorry, he could have been, but it was so long ago I did this research I can't remember now. The part about being a community college professor is all I remember. I did find my email from Andrew Bunting in 2010: The Sequoia sempervirens we have on campus which does sometimes parade under the name of "Swarthmore Hardy" is from a plant we got from the Coker Arboretum in 1994 (i.e., the North Carolina/Venable tree, also marketed by Camellia Forest as 'Chapel Hill'.). We don't having any other old plants on campus. We do have a plant of Sequoia sempervirens that is about 30' feet tall that we got from the Barnes Arboretum in 1980. So I guess he means the larger S.s. on the Swarthmore campus, is the North Carolina/Coker/Venable tree. I can't say for sure because in spite a couple visits to the campus, I never noticed either one! As I said though, having owned clones of both for a few years now, they sure do look identical, so it corroborates Bunting's account. Now would be the time for someone to propagate the Barnes/U Washington clone! Sadly it isn't always easy. In 2016 I sent Cam Forest S.s. cuttings I collected at some elevation in the coast ranges after driving around for a day looking for one I thought would be in a 'cold spot'. It was a frost hollow at 1400'. Alas, the attempt to root them failed.