Hinoki cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa, is a wonderful small tree and with endless cultivars to choose from. Some are very slow growing and will remain very small and most would appreciate at least some degree of direct sun - several hours of morning sun would be ideal. With as many different cultivars as there are on offer, there's an equally wide number of forms and growth habits. Slender Hinoki cypress, C. obtusa 'Gracilis', is a selection that is very common here and used frequently for both screening and specimen planting purposes. It's quite sculptural in stature with a definite Asian character - it doesn't look like a typical "Christmas tree" conifer. You might want to take this specific question about Hinokis to the Conifers forum for more input - I have no idea how well they do in the high summer heat and humidity conditions of NC but they love the PNW. If you are looking for coniferous screening, I'd also suggest Cyrptomeria japonica 'Elegans'. This is a conifer that is quite shade tolerant, has a very soft touch, has a reasonable growth rate yet remains of modest size and is used widely in the South. Neither it or the Hinoki are particularly drought tolerant, however.

no- and once you go down there you'll understand why that question is almost laughable. they are run by good old country boy southerners who've probably not met computers, let alone websites. :) there's like 2 people in each nursery speak english and the rest are hispanic help. coy broadwell owns broadwell's, and his nephew owns old stage. they are competitors, but not so much in spirit. broadwell's is a bit cheaper, with more common things, and old stage has more of the trendier stuff. i always ck broadwell's first and if they don't carry it, ck old stage. the trick is asking the one guy/lady who speaks english (and who'll have the money in hand) where to go in the fields to get what you want. last i was down, it was strictly cash or check only. jimtnc wasn't kidding when he said it's mayhem. but it's worth the trip- it's just a lot different than what you're used to thinking of for nurseries. they are wholesale, used by the trade, though they are open for retail as well. it's just that they're more geared for wholesale. they are both closed on sundays, and open sat morns, weekdays til 5 or so in winter and i think 6 in summer but don't quote me on that.

"Tiny Towers" Italian Cypress are superb for tall and narrow. They don't get gigantic like the big ones do. Spearmint Juniper is also great. Beautiful green color and takes to shearing very easily. "Purple Pony" purple leaf plum is also excellent as a small tree. Only gets about 12' tall. Doesn't get huge like the big ones do... There are also some smaller Cassias that do well as small trees and have nice flowers as well and are only briefly deciduous.

These all sound wonderful, thanks so much, I wonder if I have space for one of everything! I would really love a Grancy Greybeard so am thinking i will try to find a spot a little further uphill with slightly more sun for this one. Maybe I could squeeze in a Silverbell there too, they look really beautiful. I do already have an Amelanchier in a sunnier spot, so i can pass on getting a second one. For the shady area then, I will look at Styrax, Cornus alternifolia, Witchhazel (i have been wanting to plant one of these for a while too), oakleaf hydrangea (i have smaller ones elsewhere and love them), mapleleaf viburnum, and redtwig dogwood. That Magnolia looks beautiful Esh, but I am thinking it might get a bit big - Floridata says 30-40', do you think that is likely in shade? Eastatliens, I had thought about an Aesculus parviflora a while ago but I'm not sure I want anything that dense. They are stunning though. Incidentally, I read on Floridata about bottlebrush buckeye and it ended with a warning that they are very toxic and ingestion can be fatal. That got me wondering whether i have any other highly toxic plants (we have 2 small kids) so I googled and discovered that my Daphne (berries) and Mtn Laurel are both listed as potentially fatal if eaten, as are Privet berries. our back yard is covered in privet berries right now from some massive old privets -- maybe i can use that to convince my husband that they must go! Time to give the kids a reminder talk about not eating any plants or berries... Thanks for all the great suggestions, I am looking forward to planting this area.