I am looking to shade-in my air conditioning units with a small tree or
a few tall shrubs. They are close to the hosue so I wouldn't plant
anything that gets bigger then about 15' I am in NE Ohio (Zone 5) and
the area is in full sun with clay soil. Ideally I'd like somthing
either fragrant or with showy flowers (or both!) I was thinking lilac
or mock-orange, but if anyone has any other suggestions, I would
welcome them.
thanks!

How about a fragrant Viburnum burkwoodii?
http://flowerscentgardens.com/viburnumburk.htm

The fragrant and interesting Heptacodium miconioides aka Seven Sons Tree
http://www.rainyside.com/features/pl...conioides.html

Newt

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I am looking to shade-in my air conditioning units with a small tree or
a few tall shrubs. They are close to the hosue so I wouldn't plant
anything that gets bigger then about 15' I am in NE Ohio (Zone 5) and
the area is in full sun with clay soil. Ideally I'd like somthing
either fragrant or with showy flowers (or both!) I was thinking lilac
or mock-orange, but if anyone has any other suggestions, I would
welcome them.
thanks!

How about a serviceberry? Some like the Amelanchier Grandiflora (
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/p....asp?code=B240 )are more
tree like and others like the Amelanchier Canadensis (
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/p....asp?code=J290 ) are
more shrub like. In large part it depends upon how you prune as to whether
you have a small tree or shrub. These are one of my favorite plants!

Thanks Newt!
I'm not sure the Viburnum would be tall enough but the Heptacodium
looks like a good option, assuming it can handle the clay soil and zone
5 (from what I've read it seems marginally zone 5 and with the clay
soil I wonder if it won't freeze)

thanks for the suggestion about serviceberry - I'm a little concerned
that a berry tree will make a mess over the air conditioning units
(berries falling in to the vents). ANyone have experience with this?

said:

thanks for the suggestion about serviceberry - I'm a little concerned
that a berry tree will make a mess over the air conditioning units
(berries falling in to the vents). ANyone have experience with this?


I know all about how messy some berry trees (mulberries!) can be.
Never had a mess with my serviceberry. The fruit are not extremely
juicey and birds tend to make off with them when they are barely mature
anyway. Fruit dropping has never been issue. My favorite serviceberry
visitors are Cedar Waxwings and orioles, the most common visitors
are robins. (Mobs of them.)
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)