An evergreen large shrub or small tree in the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae) native to Asia. In its natural habitat, it typically grows in 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. More information on Distylium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Obovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Petalless flowers with red calyces and purple stamens form racemes in leaf axils in the late spring to early summer.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
A two-beaked woody capsule with brown star-shaped hairs following flowering contains oval seeds.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Light Brown
Bark detail
Medium brown bark
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Rigid, short branches with star-shaped hairs. Older branches dark brown and hairless.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China, Japan
Play value
Buffer; Textural
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
This wood is used for making musical instruments. The ashes from the wood are used in porcelain glazing.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden
Design feature
Foundation Planting; Hedge; Screen/Privacy
Garden tags
#flowers late spring #flowers early summer #evergreen shrub #small tree #glossy leaves #large shrub #cottage garden #leathery leaves #evergreen #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #foundation planting #hedge #woodland #HS111 #HS304 #screen #partial shade tolerant