understory trees

I'm putting together a plan for an understory planting of small trees in a roughly 2 acre woodland site, which is located between the road and house. I took advantage of the warm weather this past weekend, which melted the snow cover, and snapped a few pics of the site. I think this area would best be described as open shade. We've lost many of the native Northern Pin Oaks over the years, which has opened up the woods considerably. Flowering trees would be great, but I'm more interested in planting a mix of small trees and large shrubs that will be happy in this woodland setting. It will get dry, but there are a few native Linden's mixed in, which I'll take as a positive sign.

A few trees under consideration include Carpinus carolinana, Ostrya virginiana, Hamamelis virginiana, Acer pensylvanicum, and Cercis canadensis. Pagoda Dogwood would look great in this setting, but the two I've tried thus far have been decimated by deer. All measures to protect them have failed -- they will not leave them alone! BTW, the small vase-shaped tree you see in front of pic #1 near path is A. tegmentosum 'Joe Witt', which is doing fairly well after a couple of years.

I can water to these trees for the first 2-3 years, but they need to be on their own after that. I'd like the majority to be native plants, but I'm open to planting a few non-natives. Any suggestions?

Pseudo

More toward the shrubby: aesculus parviflora, dirca palustris, corylopsis. How about a halesia tetrapetera, gymnocladus dioicus, cladrastis kentukea, chionanthus virginica? I presume you're too far north for dogwoods... too bad. I've got a couple parrotia's doing fine in an understory situation also. I haven't completely vetted these options for your most northerly habitat, so might they might not be suitable. I'll defer to VV for the requisite viburnum options.

Amelanchier sp.?

Cotinus obovatus?

Hamamelis vernalis would be just fine.

There are a bunch of good choices from Viburnum prunifolium, and probably Viburnum lentago too.

Don't know for sure for you, but Lindera benzoin and Asimina triloba love the understory here.

Maybe even a Vaccinium sp. or two...

You two have given me a lot to think about. I've never considered Cladrastis or Gymnocladus to be understory trees, but maybe I should reconsider -- especially the Yellowwood. I wonder if it would flower in z4 shade?

Viburnum prunifolium is another favorite of deer. I've got 'Forest Rouge', which they keep in permanent shrub form. I'd have to look this up, but I think V. lentago prefers more shade than lentago. Actually, I think there is someone on this forum who could answer that question. ;)

Lindera, Halesia, and Aesculus are great ideas. Viburnum Valley gave me a couple of small Red Buckeyes a few years ago, one of which is hanging in there, but growing painfully slow. Maybe it would appreciate being moved to a new home. It would make more sense to plant all of these in a woodland setting than in a more open -- and hotter -- setting. Same with Amelanchier...I can't believe I didn't think of that one.

Thanks for getting me started on this. This is phase one, with two more to hopefully be completed over the next five years. I've still got considerably more work to do before I can say the buckthorn and Amur Honeysuckle is under control, but I'm getting there. I'd show a picture of phase II to show you what I'm up against, but it's not letting me upload photos on this reply. Has anyone else experienced this?