Hmmm...a plain old red maple would produce similar red new growth.

Something with blue-green foliage or orange flowers would work from a color wheel standpoint. Blue Arrow Juniper? Dessert Willow (Chilopsis linearis ‘Bubba’)?

I'd use a blue conifer (Picea pungens cultivar, for example). That way when the Nyssa does its stuff in the fall, you have blue and orange, color wheel opposites, next to each other, for an incredible display, as Ed notes above.

Aren't both of those suggestions only to zone 8? I was afraid to look at those since we're zone 9 (though the nursery says we're a mix of 8 and 9). But it's an area of full sun so I was a little afraid. I've seen some neighbors have issues with conifers, so I assumed it was too much sun.

Good question. The zonal tolerance system is really more based on winter hardiness then ability to tolerate heat. Lots of plants are perfectly happy a zone hotter then they are used to regardless of what the zone system says.

However, you are correct that lots of conifers have trouble in hot climates. Blue spruce in particular is notorious for not doing well in parts of the country it isn't used to...it's very particular about humidity levels.
That was why I suggested a blue juniper...those might do better in a dessert climate.
You could try Horstmann Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)? That is rated to Zone 9.

Someone once suggested to me Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca' as a rare blue conifer that took well to aggressive pruning...it isn't cold hardy enough for my area, but might work for you.

I also suggested a dessert plant...although I'm not that familiar with that one...it might not be able to handle the anount of water you give your lawn and black gum.

Agree with S Malone about blue conifer(s) or something else evergreen and blue, for contrast with the fall color. And the deciduous structure of the sour gum.

If this selection is not dwarf then you need to allow space for a full sized (60 ft.) tree - with a commensurate average crown spread - or crowding will occur at some point. For instance the Seattle (USDA 8) arboretum had one over 73 ft. tall by about 2005, dating from material acquired in 1948.

Ed Lincoln I believe that the problems that Picea pungens encounters outside of its native habitat relate more to summer humidity and warm nights than anything else. Pp is virtually bullet proof for me, and likely would be fine in the OPs garden. Blue cedars great, too, just make sure in either case to pick a dwarf cultivar or be prepared to prune copiously. Cedars are way easier to prune for size than blue spruce are, but there are great dwarf cultivars of both.

Here are some examples of blue with autumn colors.

Blue, got it. SOOOOOOO....if there was space for a blue conifer of some kind PLUS one of the trees I listed, which would you pick?

Not super familiar with most of those cultivars. It's hard to find accurate information on specific cultivars...there is lots of slanted information online from the people selling them.

Western Redbud is native to California, so that's a vote in it's favor.

sara is a CA conifer guru ... and that is why east coast ed.. AND MIDWEST MYSELF .... never heard of her suggestions ... do note.. if you didnt .... thats her website ...

i cant help you with CA ... may as well be the moon for me ... but i always like to suggest ... that if you want precise suggestions.. i believe you would be much further ahead.. offering a picture ... for ME .. its an artistic installation.. and words alone.. fail.. ME ....

ken

this website lets you look at all the blue conifers they have ... there are other options such as size.. form.. etc ...

then use the latin names to do more research.. if you wish ...

ken

http://www.coniferkingdom.com/blue/

Cupressus cashmeriana (Kashmir cypress, although it is actually from Bhutan) is indeed gorgeous except it is not very blue. One of my very favorite trees. I am planting a grove of them over our lake. However, I love my Picea pungens (Colorado blue spruce) cultivars as well.

Here is Cupressus cashmeriana playing background to Photinia f. 'Cassini' and Magnolia laevifolia 'Snowbird' last month:

I think the OP isn't really sold on conifers...she seems set on Redbuds and just wants advice as to which o several redbud cultivars her nursery carries.

I took the advice to heart and meandered the nursery yesterday checking out the blue conifers.

I really like:

Juniper 'Blue Arrow'

Juniper 'Skyrocket'

Juniper 'Moonglow'

Do any of these have pros/cons that I haven't read about? I hadn't considered them before because my allergies are crazy and I THINK I'm allergic to Juniper. I have bad allergies around the time that the stinky pear tree is blooming, but have read it's not that tree, but rather the stuff that is also pollinating at that time. And I've also read the Juniper is severely allergenic. Maybe since it's back far from the patio it won't matter much. I don't know.

But say I have room for my Tupelo, a blue conifer (or more if they're the skinny ones), AND a redbud...are any of you familiar with the shapes and sizes of these cultivars?

edlincoln, no it's not that I'm not interested. I figured I'd take a look at what I can find locally instead of a random internet search which may or may not provide me with ones that are good for my area or available to buy anyways. I didn't want to get my heart set on something I couldn't get...

Right there with you, A S.

Good practice. The three that you have noted are all cultivars of J. scopulorum, Rocky Mountain juniper. 'Blue Arrow' and 'Skyrocket' are very similar in appearance, but 'Blue Arrow' is thought to be a superior selection because it is not subject to the fungal disease, cedar apple rust, that afflicts 'Skyrocket'.

The ACS ConiferBase has information about all three.

Crazily, I also considered Eucalyptus. The only problem with that is I couldn't find one somewhere between gigantic and 3'x3'. Maybe my nursery just doesn't have many cultivars of that one. I also read it can become invasive in CA, so maybe that's why I don't see many...

There are some really cool Eucalyptus...

There are Eucalyptus that have blue-green foliage that would look good with the Spring buds and Fall foliage of Tupelo. Unfortunately, many varieties are considered invasive species in California, and they are problems in wildfires.

Junipers burst into flames also. But the first question, that remains unaddressed: is there really enough room for three trees anyway? Although slow the tupelo will come over time to occupy a substantial space just by itself. Due to their comparative height trees exist as accent points in the garden, can easily come to appear crowded visually even when not in very close proximity physically. Unless a planting of multiple trees consists of one kind, registers with the viewer therefore as a grove, hedge or screen etc. - with this grouping being the individual landscape feature, rather than each separate tree.

To function as a contrasting backdrop for the sour gum blue conifers or other blue or gray, evergreen trees would need to be planted as a row or drift, at least as wide as the Nyssa will become. With the tupelo between the main viewing point and the backdrop.

unless you want a hedgerow kind of effect...sometimes when I am trying to block a view I crowd trees together. But that point is well-taken. You might find that if you put three trees there you will have to take one out at some point.

The redbud will die of old age long before the Tupelo gets all that big.

Sara...glad to hear someone else loves Cupressus cashmeriana. I lived and worked in Bhutan for 4 years, and must have planted several dozen of these. It's actually Bhutan's National Tree.

In certain light, they do have a blue tinge, but not from up close...

What lovely photos!