Redbuds cast a great deal of shade and often make it impossible to garden under them for that reason. They don't get too tall, but their branches will eventually strike the house at the distance you are contemplating. Serviceberry has the nice drooping florets and later the delicious berries that many birds love, so you could observe them feasting on them close up if a window looks out on that spot. It does well in partial shade and seems fairly adaptable; I see no reason why you couldn't keep it in shrub form if you are able to find one trained that way. However, I had some revert to small-tree form when I failed to keep them clipped, so you may be able to find a more trouble-free shrub for next to your house, and save your serviceberry planting for along your driveway or other opening from the woodsy areas. Pieris Japonica comes in many forms these days and is an interesting shrub that grows fairly slowly, so requires little attention. Some of the larger Rhododendrons would also do well in that spot, and the color choices and flower forms are wonderful. Of course Forsythia would also grow there, and there are several size choices. Witch Hazel is often difficult to get established, especially if it is a graft. It has a wonderful fragrance when the tiny flowers appear, but it grows very slowly and takes a long time to fill out, in my experience. If you don't mind thorns you could try Bitter Orange, but eventually it will probably crave more sun. The flowers have a nice fragrance and it has beautiful dark shiny leaves...but it also grows quite slowly. The hazelnut tree or shrub is not often thought of but is worth checking into. There is probably not enough sun for a lilac but the hibiscus can tolerate more shade and has flower choices that range from white to a soft pink to a lovely lavender color. All that said, Viburnums are available in many kinds, and the viburnum in any form makes a good wood that stands up to abuse quite well; they are one of the sturdiest shrubs out there, imo, unlike the hydrangeas, which make a very soft stem. However, oak leaf hydrangeas are capable of eventually getting fairly large, and have the interestingly shaped leaves and flower clusters. I believe their color change in fall is also attractive, and they do quite well in partial shade. Here is a link that might be useful: Pieris Japonica references

Great suggestions! The mobile home park I live in is tiered like a three layer cake, and I am on the top level. Each level has a split rail fence at the end of the backyard, and each level also has tree plantings along the rail. My level alternates white pine with Bradford pear, and the Bradfords haven't taken the winds well. A few have died, but that did provide me with more light in my back yard. Not the owner's best choice. I like both the Paperbark Maple and Corylus suggestions - I found a pic at Dave's Gardens of a 20 yr old Harry Lauder's trained into a tree form, and it looked spectacular! Slow growth, catkins, and I've always loved the twisted form - this one may be the winner. I can't believe I never realized it had catkins. Seeing it trained into tree form changed my opinion of it's high cost, it really is a show stopper when not left as an unruly shrub. I've been reading about the filbert blight - trying to find a silver lining I can say that woodworking is a new hobby and if the thing should die from blight some day, I could easily use the contorted wood in projects - lol. Thanks for the great tips, I knew this was the place to come to : ) Now I'll have to start saving my pennies because I think the Harry Lauder's is the winner...

Might want to consider 'Hartlage Wine' Sweetbush (Calycanthus x raulstonii' Hartlage Wine)-- Low maintenance/high impact! â¢Upright broadleaf deciduous shrub, 8' tall to almost 8' wide, may reach 15' à10'; â¢Flowers maroon to wine-colored, slight fragrance, about 3" wide, with off-white tipped stamens; â¢Bloom period from spring through early summer; â¢Flowers being sterile, the plant does not produce seed; â¢Leaves glossy, bright green, opposite, simple, 4 1/2" to 7" long; â¢Sun, part shade, shade; â¢Hardy to USDA Zone 5 to 6 â¢fragrant flowers; â¢appealing foliage; â¢wide-ranging adaptability; â¢shade tolerance, and â¢first-rate pest resistance. What's not to love??!! This is a beautiful shrub (persistent bloomer) that does well in shade or part shade. The only way it could be better is if it was evergreen (LOL)

It's a hawthorn species