I've grown shantung maples from seeds and I can tell you that leaf shape and growth habit varies quite a bit. Hortster is correct that they tend want to stay bushy so the lower branches will have to be pruned every year or two. The branches can get pretty thick after 2-3 years so I've learned not to wait too long before pruning. I have 'Fire Dragon' that produce consistent deep red fall color (Sooner Plant Farm sells it online now) and it produced decent numbers of seeds 2 years ago so I tried them out. The seedlings do seem to be more reddish in the fall rather than typical yellow. I'm repeating it again this year to see if that's the case again. It's pretty easy to spot a true Shantung maple by simply looking at their unique corky trunk when they are 2-3 years old. I would have thought that Carl Munn's nursery in Oregon would have Fire Dragon since he's friends with the owner of Metro Maples who discovered 'Fire Dragon' Shantung maple and also was the first one to get Munn's 'Moonrise' maple.

Thanks for the suggestion. I do have an area that I want conifers and will definiately consider the Arizona Cypress for that! They would go on the north side of my property and it is okay if they are all the same type of tree and evergreen. But for the south side of my property I am needing decidious for sun in the winter and during the winter the wind doesnt blow much along that side. It only blows from the south or south west in the summer (when they would be in leaf). I am hoping for fall color in the trees on the south side (with the original post was about) and variety in form, like columnar and wide heads for shade with different colors. Thanks!

Totally extravagant bit of floof, that! Snowpea in Montreal

Both are selections cultivated specifically for good fall color - much better than the species. Both should do fine in NC - Acer rubrum has a huge natural range that includes all of the southeast down into Florida.