I don't want to do it but

I have a place that a few minmosa would work well. What else could I use? I need a fast growing tree that tops out at 15-20ft, Has a nice arching shape so people can walk under them. Grows in 8b(deep south so it needs to beable to take a lot of sun). Flowering or interesting leaves. Both would be nice.

I know they're overused, but wouldn't one of the larger crape myrtles work? I have also seen smooth sumac used as an ornamental.

All ready have enough crape myrtles. That would work but I want something different. Your on the right track though.

Why not a Magnolia grandiflora cv or a Chocolate Mimosa?

One of those smaller Asian magnolias would work. I don't like them, but lots of other people do.

Magnolia virginiana or Halesia diptera var. magniflora.

If you use mimosa, we'll talk about you over on the Invasives Forum. That's never a pretty site (and I meant to spell it that way).

Mimosas get more like 30 feet, not 15-20 so they may not be what you want anyway. Plus since mimosas are known to be invasive in the south, I wouldn't add to the problem by planting them. How about something nice like Chionanthus virginicus? It meets your height requirement and is very pretty, not sure about the hot sun and the speed of growth though since I'm not very familiar with it.

If you don't mind it being evergreen, you could use wax myrtle. I have limbed them up into a nice small tree. The berries are also good for wildlife.

"Flowering or interesting leaves. Both would be nice." - some of the ones mentioned only flower for a short time - is this a focal point plant? Magnolia asheii. I still think there is such a nice selection of M. grandifloras and they bloom throughout the year with nice lustrous leaves.

Finding something that flowers is easy, it's the arching "mimosa" shape that is hard to find.

15-25' and arching? How about one of the witchhazels. Jelena is a good one. Maybe more horizontal than arching, but that can be managed somewhat with some pruning. Chionanthus retusus is not quite arching, but again it's pretty close. Same with Heptacodium miconioides, which is like a more vertical, top-heavy crape myrtle with excellent bark, okay foliage, late summer, somewhat fragrant flowers, long-lasting calyxes that make it seem like it is in flower forever.

Scott

Chionanthus retusus.

Scott

Chionanthus retusus flowers, which occur in spring.

Scott

Heptacodium miconioides.

Scott

Heptacodium bark.

Scott

And Heptacodium flowers. Hope this helps.

Scott

Cornus alternafolia argenteomarginata - pie-plate tiered growth.

Cornus alternifolia is a great option that could easily be pruned to achieve an informal arch. Here is a better picture of Heptacodium, which I just went out and took.

Scott

And a close-up of a calyx. This is the only one I could find; it's still pretty early. These get much larger, making the shrub appear to be covered with pink flowers.

Scott

Heptacodium is pretty tough with the blooms and calyx and stays well below size required.

Remember (or note): CoreHHI is in SOUTH CAROLINA. Hot summers, probably high humidity, warm soils SC.

Somebody show me where Cornus alternifolia is doing well south (south, not PNW) of zone 6. It's native here in KY, and it does poorly. Granted, a beautiful plant, but it would be a tortured soul much further down towards Dixie.

Same with witch hazels: pick a species or clone known to have performed well in the heat/humidity and high soil temps of the south. Absolute winter cold is not the issue most of the time when you get into zone 8 and further down. One of the Hamamelis japonica or Hamamelis mollis might work. Hamamelis mollis 'Wisley Supreme' is the favorite of my propagating friend in TN (who produces over 40 clones).

Heck, CoreHHI maybe ought to try Gordonia or Franklinia.

Those sound good although finicky to get going but they do have nice foliage and blooms.

ViburnumValley your right about the heat, cold is not an issue unless I'm dealing with a true tropical. Sun, humidity are what I have to look out for. As far Franklinia I've thought of planting those since their rare and I'm really close to where they were found in the wild. I take it you know their story? They have a cameillia like flower which is nice but I don't know if I could get it to arch enough for what I want it to do. I'm looking for something that the branches will arch out maybe 15 ft to shade a walk way down the one side of my house. Direct north facing to be exact.

CoreHHI:

I didn't know exactly where Bluffton was up till just now; you're darn near out of southern SC and your feet must be wet. New nickname: Dr. Coastal Plain.

Could you post a photo of the situation that you are trying to resolve?

Not to rag on about the plant selection, but just about any of the small trees mentioned on this thread could be planted and pruned to fit the scenario you've presented. Even the arching form of mimosa would have to be pruned as it grows, since that wonderful shape doesn't just create itself to suit our whims (oh, t'were it so!).

Furthermore (moreover...additionally..and), branches (of trees of arching habit) that would arch over a walkway will continue to lengthen and thus gain weight, inevitably settling back down into the "right of way". By then, these branches will have gained a size that no one likes to have to lop off. A tree with with a more ascending branching habit may suit your needs better, as long as it forms the canopy you desire over the walkway.

Depending on the perspective of the viewer of this plant, some of the trees that have pendant flowers may be the most suitable. These would be enjoyed best from beneath, looking up into the flowers hanging down. You also noted that the walkway travels due north along your house; is the house to the east or to the west of the walk? Sun exposure will direct some of your choices.

That said, I've thought of a few more plants to tantalize and torture your decision-making. Consider the full rare southeastern pawpaw group, including Asimina parviflora, Asimina incana, Asimina angustifolia, and Asimina obovata. Woodlanders has offered these species in the past.

Finally, I have this little tree blooming here right now. A deciduous magnolia with large fragrant pendant white flowers in mid to late summer, Oyama magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii 'Colossus') is a small tree that deserves wider use.

Here's a couple of pics. The back of my house faces directly east, front direct west, which makes this side facing direct north. I have 5 tall pines growing and on left the you see tea olives which I'm moving to the right up against my neighbors fence. The tea olives don't get enough sun since the over hang shades that area almost all day.

The plan is make this a shade garden, maybe put in a water feature and a sitting area. Haven't gotten that far yet. Probably put camellias under the over hang and hydrangeas.

One from the front.

I'm going to add Musa basjoo - may require some protection in winter. It would help create your "room", provide some shade and would probably grow taller trying to get the sun. Oasis.

That's what the tea olives do, they just grow on top trying to reach over the roof for the sun.

CoreHHI, I have seen some folks doing strange things with Mimosa around here lately. I never considered pruning them and treating them as speciman trees, but have seen quite a few recently, with all lower limbs trimmed off, kinda like an umbrella effect. They actually look pretty nice. The few I have just kind of grow however they desire, and not always how I would like them to! I did cut off a large lower branch of one in my wooded area in front yard, because it was shading the bed I had planted there in early spring before the thing leafed out. I think they are really pretty and attract hummers bigtime, I just hate pulling up little volunteers all over the place. I wish those fine folks at the Center for Applied Nursery Research would figure out a way to keep the GOOD things about the Mimosa and breed out the er, less desirable attributes. Hey, they did it with Wisteria!

Hey growin I couldn't find Musa basjoo, banana will grow around here but you won't get fruit. You have a link to "basjoo"? I take it, it's a tall full banana?

VV I'll look into the pawpaw group. I didn't really think about it but I might go with a tropical look. When ever I think palm I don't think shade so I didn't think about bananas and small trees like that. My yard could use a tropical looking spot. Hmmmm, this is getting tricky. LOL. I'm going to do a lot of planting this Dec. and Jan. so I have time to figure this out. With some sort of water feature, maybe a tiki or two...

Thanks for help, you have me thinking in a different direction now. Anyone have suggestions to go for a tropical look?

Here's the PF for Musa basjoo: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1251/index.html This basjoo flower is at about 6' and the leaves arch at 6-7'.
The Windmill Palm seems to look better in a shaded spot. The best palms in town are facing north, not because of their height but because of the size of the leaves, the deep green colour. If you want some suggestions about tropical-look gardening, check out my friends site (including Tiki hut) www.tropic.ca

I also like and agree with Oyama magnolia that VV suggested.