Foliage may look better (and drought tolerance improves) in shade, but flowering is best and habit is densest in full sun. Variable habit; in fact, highly variable in other traits as well, so it's unfortunate that vegetative propagation is difficult. Moist soil and nutrients may speed growth.
Deep taproot complicates transplanting.
Males have showier flowers, but fruit of females attracts birds/mammals. Blooms profusely from a young age; fragrance is slight, but strongest in the evening, with notes of honey, allspice, and vanilla. Late to leaf out.
Susceptible to emerald ash borer and other borers, especially in dry sites.
NCSU claims not for acid soils, but I have found no other sources to corroborate this (in fact, Dove/Woolridge and the USDA say just the opposite). Salt tolerance is debated, as is clay tolerance (JerseyYards.org, White Oak, and Missouri BG say yes; NCSU and USDA say no).
Bir describes the ideal site as fertile, slightly acidic, and of average moisture (not droughty), pointing out that the tree is found wild in dry soils near moisture sources (streambanks, slopes above wetlands...).
'Emerald Knight' is a slow-growing upright glossy green male. 'CVSTF' (Prodigy) is a female with "narrow, shiny, leathery[,] dark green leaves". 'CV1049' (Serenity) is broader, denser, and more vigorous than most, though not said to be shiny/glossy. 'Spring Fleecing' is a narrow-leaved, shiny, heavily flowering male. 'White Knight' is another heavily-flowering male, to the point that it slows growth.
Sources: White Oak, Sunset, NCSU, Dove/Woolridge, UFL, Rutgers, JerseyYards.org, UConn, Odenwald/Turner, USDA, Bir, Dirr & Warren, Druse.
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