Growth: Vigorous, upright/columnar habit while young
Light: Full sun to afternoon shade
Soil: Rich, well-drained garden soil
Central Missouri: Rated zone 6-9, so central Missouri (6a/6b) is at the cold edge of its range; very early bloom time makes flowers vulnerable to late spring freezes and hard winters can cause dieback, so treat as a somewhat marginal/riskier choice here
*Stock image shown for reference. Actual tree appearance may vary.