Shrubs
Distylium, Genus, myricoides, Species,
- Genus & species
Distylium
Overview
Distylium myricoides is an evergreen shrub with a dense, upright to rounded habit and leathery, alternate leaves on short petioles. Leaves are elliptic to obovate, 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) long and 0.8–1.5 inches (2–4 cm) wide, dark green, with entire or shallowly wavy margins. New growth emerges bronze to red-tinged and matures to green over several weeks. In cultivation plants reach 4–8 feet (1.2–2.4 m) tall and 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m) wide, while wild plants in China can reach 16 feet (5 m) or more. Flowers are small, petal-less, and carried in short axillary racemes, with dark red stamens producing the visible color. Fruit is a woody, hairy capsule about 0.4 inch (1 cm) long that splits at the tip. Leaf galls formed by aphids are common on Distylium and disfigure foliage without usually harming the plant. Growth rate is moderate, at 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) per year. The species is the parent of several garden hybrids and is less common in cultivation than its cultivars.
Native Range
Native to southern and southwestern China, growing in evergreen broadleaf forest and along streams at low to middle elevations.Suggested Uses
Used as an evergreen hedge, foundation planting, or informal screen, spaced 3–5 feet (0.9–1.5 m) apart. Grown in mixed shrub borders in warm-temperate gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4' - 8'
Width/Spread4' - 6'
Colors
Bloom Information
Blooms in March–April on short axillary racemes 0.5–1.5 inches (1.3–4 cm) long. Flowers lack petals; dark red stamens and pollen-bearing anthers form the visible color. Individual flowers are 0.2 inch (5 mm) across and last about 2–3 weeks on the plant.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Dark red stamens, no petalsFoliage Description
Dark green, bronze to red-tinged when newGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade, with 4–8 hours of direct sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils from acidic to mildly alkaline (pH 5.5–7.5) if drainage is adequate. Established plants tolerate short dry periods and typically receive 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week during establishment. Hardy in USDA zones 6–9; foliage is damaged below about 0°F (-18°C). Root rot develops in soil that stays saturated. A 2–3 inch (5–8 cm) mulch layer moderates soil temperature, and one application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring supports growth.Pruning
Tolerates shearing and formative pruning, done after flowering in April–May. Cuts made to shorten branches by up to one-third stimulate branching and denser growth. Galled shoot tips can be removed and discarded to reduce aphid populations.Pruning Schedule
Prune: April–May
late spring
Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons
