"nicer looking bark,"
LOL!! That may be a matter of opinion :-) Personally, I find the flaking, multi-colored camouflage looking bark patterning of a mature S. pseudocamellia to be far more appealing than just the cinnamon colored, shaggy bark of the monodelpha. I also think it has equally as good fall color (which can be quite spectacular under the correct circumstances).
Full sun is not at all a requirement for either stewartia - they will do very well in partial shade and may actually experience some leaf scorch in full-on, hot sun in summer. And as noted, not exactly drought tolerant - consistently even soil moisture is preferred.
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Steartia pseudocamellia growing in Northeast Vermont.
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