Distylium racemosum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dis-STY-lee-um ray-see-MO-sum
- Description
-
An evergreen large shrub or small tree in the witch hazel family. In its natural habitat, it typically grows in evergreen oak forests at elevations above 3000'. For optimum health, plant in an area that is sheltered from strong cold winds.
Distylium hybrids are becoming a popular landscape plant due to the fact that they are evergreen, compact, disease and insect resistant, and are heat and drought tolerant. They also need little pruning.
There are no petals on the flowers. Each has a five-parted, red, downy outer structure and several vivid purple stamens.
In its native locations, this specimen has grown to heights of 60' and is considered valuable for its wood content which is very hard and a dark color. This wood is used for making musical instruments. The ashes from the wood are used in porcelain glazing.
Grown out of its native areas, it will typically grow to a maximum height of 10-15' in height.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no major insect or disease issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Akebono'
Creamy-white new shoots mature to green. - 'Guppy'
Compact habit, small leaves - 'Ogisu'
The leaves have white margins. - 'Spring Frost'
- 'Variegatum'
Narrow, deformed with irregular margin.
- 'Akebono'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Akebono'
Creamy-white new shoots mature to green. - 'Guppy'
Compact habit, small leaves - 'Ogisu'
The leaves have white margins. - 'Spring Frost'
- 'Variegatum'
Narrow, deformed with irregular margin.
- 'Akebono'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Distylium
- Species:
- racemosum
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Japan
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- A two-beaked woody capsule following flowering.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Petalless flowers with red calyces and purple stamens form racemes in leaf axils in the late spring to early summer.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leathery and glossy dark dreen simple leaves with entire margins. Lighter green below.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Rigid, short branches.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
