Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: small tree suggestions, 0 by rcn48

rcn48 wrote:
chamthy, based on where you are located - the coastal plain region of NC, indicates sandy soils.
Since we live in the Blue Ridge region of Virginia with clay soils, the trees that we would recommend, e.g. Chionanthus, Oxydendron, etc. will not thrive in your soils. Because you are on the border of Zone 8, you really have an entirely different set of growing conditions that limit your choices, which is one of the reasons that Crape Myrtle is so frequently used.

Michael Dirr's book: Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/088192525X/qid=1140344450/s... would be an excellent reference for you to check out. I've attached a list of the contents of his choices for trees and shrubs and this might be a starting point for you, as well as eliminating some of the choices already mentioned.

Although I haven't read this book, it may also be a source of information for you: North Carolina Gardener's Guide, 2nd Edition, Toby Bost http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930604211/ref=sib_rdr_dp/1...

It appears that you are located very close to J. C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/. They offer free tours of the Aboretum every Sunday at 2 PM from April through October and this would also be an excellent resource for you in determining what would do well in your unique situation.