Myrtle-leafed distylium Distylium racemosum
Other 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. The shrubs prefer a half-shady situation on moist soil with a sandy loam substrate.
Distylium hybrids are becoming a popular landscape plant due to the fact that they are evergreen, compact, disease and insect-resistant, and 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. Grown out of its native areas, it will typically grow to a maximum height of 10-15' in height. Use this plant in a shrub border, as screening, in a woodland setting or foundation planting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no major insect or disease issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Akebono'
Creamy-white new shoots mature to green. - 'Blue Cascade'
Dense, compact. Blue-green foliage. - 'Guppy'
Compact habit, small leaves - 'Ogisu'
The leaves have white margins. - 'Spring Frost'
- 'Variegatum'
Narrow, deformed with irregular margin.
- 'Akebono'
- 'Akebono', 'Blue Cascade', 'Guppy', 'Ogisu', 'Spring Frost', 'Variegatum'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Akebono'
Creamy-white new shoots mature to green. - 'Blue Cascade'
Dense, compact. Blue-green foliage. - 'Guppy'
Compact habit, small leaves - 'Ogisu'
The leaves have white margins. - 'Spring Frost'
- 'Variegatum'
Narrow, deformed with irregular margin.
- 'Akebono'
- 'Akebono', 'Blue Cascade', 'Guppy', 'Ogisu', 'Spring Frost', 'Variegatum'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Distylium
- Species:
- racemosum
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- This wood is used for making musical instruments. The ashes from the wood are used in porcelain glazing.
- 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
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A two-beaked woody capsule with brown star-shaped hairs following flowering contains oval seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- 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 Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leathery and glossy dark green simple leaves with entire margins and cuneate base and 5-6 veins. Lighter green below. Shape is elliptic or obovate-elliptic.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- Medium brown bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Rigid, short branches with star-shaped hairs. Older branches dark brown and hairless.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
