Distylium x Vintage Jade® (Distylium)

Vintage Jade® 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 witner-hazels, Distylium x Vintage Jade® is a sprawling, low-growing shrub that typically grows to 3-4' tall with a mature width of 4-5'. The Vintage Jade® cultivar is named for its attractive, multi-color green foliage, which opens a bright, jade green in the spring before maturing to a glossy, dark green in summer; unlike some Distylium cultivars, this variety maintains a fully green coloration, instead of picking up bronze or blue hues through the season.

In the winter, Distylium x Vintage Jade® 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, Vintage Jade® 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. Distylium x Vintage Jade® 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.