Question
hi,
can a dogwood tree [ cornus florida] have a good chance of survival here in northwestern indiana?
of course the nursery's here promote the idea ,as "yes" you can plant it and succeed.
but a couple of my friends  that own there own landscaping companies here, counsel against it because of the january sub-zero temp. coupled with the hard winds that we get off of lake michigan ,would be it's demise they say?
also my soil is 6.5 ph [in clay]
& good sun exposure.
2nd question
what is soil ph range for a cleveland pear?

thanx  

Answer
The range of flowering dogwood extends from extreme southwestern Maine west to New York, extreme southern Ontario, central Michigan, central Illinois, and central Missouri; south to extreme southeast Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, east Texas; and east to north Florida.

But I would tend to agree with the landscape companies and not plant dogwood there. This species is not recommended for the upper Midwest, it is being addressed here because of its extreme popularity and beauty. It is an exquisite small tree with lovely flowers, form and fall color. However, lack of adequate hardiness (especially the flower buds) removes it from practical consideration in most of zone 5 and farther north. The hardiest strains of C. florida can be grown in the middle range of zone 5 if given a protected site, but may still suffer periodic dieback during severe winters.

The growing requirements for dogwood are.
Light requirement: tree grows in part shade/part sun;tree grows in the shade; tree grows in full sun.
Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; slightly alkaline;acidic; well-drained.

The Cleveland pear tolerates drought and will grow in dry, well-drained, loamy, sandy or clay soil.  Prefers a pH of acidic to alkaline.
The Cleveland Select Pear is a medium sized ornamental species that is commonly planted for its decorative value. In early spring Cleveland Select Pear trees produce clusters of beautiful white blossoms that lasts two weeks before the leaves appear. The flowers that are produced have five petals and are about 2-3 cm in diameter. Cleveland Select Pear trees have leaves that are oval in shape, 5-7 cm long, and are glossy dark green. In the autumn Cleveland Select Pears turn brilliant colors, anything from yellow and orange to a more common red, purple. The Cleveland Select Pear distinguishes itself from the Bradford Pear because the Cleveland Select is able to withstand storm damage during the high winds of severe thunderstorms or when ice storms occur. Bradford Pear trees are susceptible to storm damage due to their dense upward growth, which results in a multitude of narrow, weak forks within the branching. Because of this, Bradford Pear trees have a much shorter lifespan than the Cleveland Select Pear.