Distylium x Blue Cascade® (Distylium)

Blue Cascade® is a compact, hybrid cultivar of Distylium, occasionally called isu tree or winter-hazel, an evergreen relative of the witch-hazel family originally native to Asia. As with many winter-hazels, Distylium x Blue Cascade® is a sprawling, low-growing shrub with a graceful, cascading growth behavior that typically grows to 3-4' tall and about as wide. The Blue Cascade® cultivar is named for the plant's gracefully arching growth form as well as its blue-green foliage, distinct from other distylium cultivars with a unique dark blue hue.

In the winter, Distylium x Blue Cascade® produces small, fuzzy red flowers that attract pollinators, making them an important off-season food plant for a number of species. As an introduced plant, Blue Cascade® has no real issues with pests or disease, and is becoming a popular replacement for a number of boxwood cultivars for low borders and evergreen accents with its low-maintenance growth, compact behavior, dense glossy foliage, and easy recovery from manicuring; although introduced, Distylium presents no risk of becoming invasive. Distylium x Blue Cascade® is a great addition to the garden, as it is resistant to both drought and deer foraging, and is not picky about soil consistency or light level, growing in both full sun and partial shade.