Don't see these too often- Hydrangea quer. 'Snow Queen' patio trees. Branching starts at about 24-30" and the plants have been pruned to thicken the stems and support the weight of all the summer blooms. There are 12 available- half are approx 4/5'H x 3/4'W and the others are approx 5/6'H x 3/4'W.
It's pretty hard to beat Magnolia macrophylla for leaf and flower size. We sold our larger specimen, but have found some more beauties. They're approx 8/10'H x 7/8'W. The leaves can grow over 30" long!
One of the smaller Vine Maples, Acer circinatum 'Sunny Sister' is a slow grower to only 5/6' in 10 years. Its new spring growth of peach and pink fade to a nice chartreuse in the summer (usually with pink margins remaining.) We have found some beauties in the 3/4' range now.
Not too many of these kicking around anywhere and only 1 to be found (for sale) with any size up here so far. Standing tall at 9/10'H (and only 30" across) Sambucus nigra 'Pyramidalis' makes a bold statement. This is a much older specimen with extremely furrowed bark on a 4" trunk. Good plant on which to test your plant friends' ID skills...