ironwood is the only tree in that list that doesn't get big. All of the other ones have nuts too (messy) and maples have the helicopters.

Just a note - there are several trees that get called ironwood. If you have the species name that might help. In North America, it USUALLY refers to Carpinus or Ostrya - both of which are small and have minor seed mess.

Both ironwoods that cork mentioned grow in my woods, and have dense, hard wood that doesn't suffer any storm damage. Each seems to prefer a different soil moisture, tho there is some mixing.

The Eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya) grows mostly on the dry hills, and has shaggy or scaly bark.

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The American hornbeam (Carpinus) seems to like the moist bottomland , has smooth bark, and is sometimes called "Blue beech".

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Both are understory trees for me, so I don't know which would have the more attractive form when grown in the open.

Thanks very much for the information. Now we have something to work with!