Will a stewartia work in this spot and more stewartia ?'s

I want to plant a stewartia in an area that recieves only afternoon sun. The spot is about 6 feet from a spreadiinig evergreen shrub mass that is about 4 ft high by 8-10 feet, I thought it would be a nice contrast to the bark. Will there be too much competition ?

Also, a couple of sources identify the stewartia koreana as better suited to more sun for this zone. Some of the nurseries I have visited have several stewartis by various names, however, they can't tell me whether they have the Korean variety or not. It is my understanding that the Korean variety is more sun tolerant, as well as a smaller tree. Are there any distinguishing differences in a young tree other than the blossom? I really don't want to plant in the heat of the summer.

Thanks in advance.

I think afternoon sun is going to be an issue for Stewartia regardless of whether or not you select a Korean or not. There are American as well as Cinese and Japanese Stewartia out there too. All of them have really great bark. They may be saying the Korean Stewartia is more tolerant of sun but I think that's still more of an understory species. The Korean Stewartia is Stewartia koreana so that should be easy enough to identify if the nursery you are going to is listing the scientific name as well as the common name other than any cultivars that may exist which you'd have to look up individually. Other than that, you might want to consider another small tree for that spot because the Korean Stewartia can attain heights of 30' or more.

Here's a neat link to a site that shows off some of the bark on the tree as well as the fall color- http://www.ghhf.org/stewartiakoreana.html

It would be protected from wind, as there are pines behind the evergreen shrub, it is understory until about 12:30....... Do many of them get as high as 30 feet? I was under the impression it was consdiered a small tree. I have not given up on this one completely, but I am open to suggestions. I do not want a full spreading round small tree.

30' is a small tree.

Protection from wind isn't going to protect it from baking in the ground planted on the western side of your home in full afternoon sun. If you want to try the tree, Is there a spot for it on the other side of your home where it would only get morning sun? It really is a beautiful tree and that bark is so distinctive.

I dunno, contact a member named Decumbent and see what he thinks about your site for a Stewartia. I think he posted once that he has planted them in almost full sun or something like that. See what he thinks about this. It's a pretty busy time of year and most people are outside these days so you might want to d-mail him with a link to this thread.

Thanks, Equilibrium, I will contact him. I was watching the spot yeasterday, it is in sun from about 12:30 to 5. I really need a tree in that spot to replace a tree I had taken down, for balance in my yard.

Sun from only 12:30 to 5pm sounds a lot better than sun from noon to dusk. Glad you are contacting him.