Looking for a broadleaf evergreen to retain leaves in winter -SW PA

[bantyshanty]

We've been toying with the idea of getting some sweet bay magnolias for our property. We're in zone 5b/6a and we have a half acre of rose bay rhododendrons which are 80 years old and thriving.

We don't have any magnolias yet. Does anyone within 100 miles of Pittsburgh have sweet bays, and if so, do they hold at least half of their leaves until spring?

 

[thistlebloom]

Maybe you've already thought of and discarded this idea, but have you considered skip laurel? (Prunus laurocerasus" Schipkaensis")

They're hardy in your zone and hold their leaves all winter.
The leaves are about the size of large rhodie leaves, it is however a shrub and you're probably looking for a tree....

 

[bantyshanty]

Thistlebloom,
I have considered this. We have hundreds of rhodies, so we thought a single-stem tree would be something we could put out front that would distinguish itself from our rosebay rhodie grove an not block our view.
Thanks for the thoughtful imput.