Distylium
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dis-STY-lee-um
- Description
-
Distylum is a genus of evergreen shrubs in the Hamamelidaceae (witch hazel) family native to Asia. Hybrids in this genus are compact, coming in many sizes, and are very insect and disease resistant as well as tolerant of drought and heat. Some cultivars even grow well in wet soils. Their landscape potential is further aided by non-messy fruits and minimal maintenance needs.
These shrubs grow best in full sun, tolerating part shade. Prune the tips in late May/June for bushier, more compact growth. They are slow growing and low maintenance.
Plant in small groups or mass plant along a border or walkway, or on a sloped area. Their compact form works well in the small nooks of cottage or formal gardens and they can be planted in a row and pruned to form a privacy hedge or screen.
Insect Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems: While they have no major pest or disease problems, they are susceptible to Phytophthora root rot, so consider resistant alternatives if this disease is present in your area.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Floricyle
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Cascade'
Purple-bronze giving way to blue-green; leaves held upright, compact but wide, hardy to 7a - Cast in Bronze®
Bronze new growth, compact and round, 3'–4' by 3'–4', hardy to 7a - 'Cinnamon Girl'
Purple giving way to dark green, small leaves, dwarf hybrid, 2'-3' by 3'-4', hardy to 6b - 'Coppertone'
Red-bronze emerging to blue-green, dwarf hybrid, 3'-4' by 4'-5', hardy to 7a
D. racemosum
- 'Emerald Heights'
Compact and round, dark green, 5' by 8', hardy to 7a - Jewel Box™
Compact, blue-green foliage, 2'–3' by 3'–4', hardy to 7a - 'Linebacker'
Red-orange new growth to dark green, barrel-shaped, 8'-10' by 6'-8', hardy to 7a - Magic Globe™
Compact, dark green foliage, 3' by 3', hardy to 7a - 'Vintage Jade'
Layered branches, short and wide, 2' by 8', hardy to 6b
Large shrub to tree, 10'-15 high; one of the parents of hybrid cultivars - 'Blue Cascade'
- 'Blue Cascade', Cast in Bronze®, 'Cinnamon Girl', 'Coppertone', D. racemosum, 'Emerald Heights', Jewel Box™, 'Linebacker', Magic Globe™, 'Vintage Jade'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Cascade'
Purple-bronze giving way to blue-green; leaves held upright, compact but wide, hardy to 7a - Cast in Bronze®
Bronze new growth, compact and round, 3'–4' by 3'–4', hardy to 7a - 'Cinnamon Girl'
Purple giving way to dark green, small leaves, dwarf hybrid, 2'-3' by 3'-4', hardy to 6b - 'Coppertone'
Red-bronze emerging to blue-green, dwarf hybrid, 3'-4' by 4'-5', hardy to 7a
D. racemosum
- 'Emerald Heights'
Compact and round, dark green, 5' by 8', hardy to 7a - Jewel Box™
Compact, blue-green foliage, 2'–3' by 3'–4', hardy to 7a - 'Linebacker'
Red-orange new growth to dark green, barrel-shaped, 8'-10' by 6'-8', hardy to 7a - Magic Globe™
Compact, dark green foliage, 3' by 3', hardy to 7a - 'Vintage Jade'
Layered branches, short and wide, 2' by 8', hardy to 6b
Large shrub to tree, 10'-15 high; one of the parents of hybrid cultivars - 'Blue Cascade'
- 'Blue Cascade', Cast in Bronze®, 'Cinnamon Girl', 'Coppertone', D. racemosum, 'Emerald Heights', Jewel Box™, 'Linebacker', Magic Globe™, 'Vintage Jade'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Distylium
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E and SE Asia, hybrid origin
- Play Value:
- Screening
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Insect and disease resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Brown, woody capsule with two valves and two seeds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers lack petals, consisting of a brightly colored calyx and stamens, and emerge from the leaf axils. Bloom from as early as January to as late as April.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- While most cultivars mature to a dark green, many have emergent growth ranging from reds to purples to bronze shades.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Rigid, short branches.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- English Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Drought
- Heat
- Insect Pests
- Wet Soil
