Linebacker™ is an upright, hybrid cultivar of Distylium, occasionally called isu tree or winter-hazel, an evergreen relative of the witch-hazel family originally native to Asia. As an upright shrub hybridized from a small tree, Linebacker typically grows to 8-10' tall with a mature width of 6-8'. Reddish new growth matures to lustrous dark green and does not thin out in the center of the plant, making a striking impression when used in borders or hedges.
In the winter, Distylium x Linebacker™ 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, Linebacker™ has no real issues with pests or disease, and is becoming a popular replacement for both cherry laurel and larger boxwood cultivars for screening and hedges due its low-maintenance growth and easy recovery from manicuring.