Walton's Plant Library

Other Names:  Evergreen Witch Hazel, Witchhazel

Brand:  Southern Living

Description:

An attractive evergreen plant with emerging bronzy-maroon foliage that matures to a glossy dark green; very elegant when massed together or as an accent shrub; disease and pest resistant

Ornamental Features

Cast In Bronze™ Evergreen Distylium has attractive dark green evergreen foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring on a plant with a horizontally-tiered habit of growth. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Cast In Bronze™ Evergreen Distylium is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a stunning habit of growth which features almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Cast In Bronze™ Evergreen Distylium is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Cast In Bronze™ Evergreen Distylium will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

Cast In Bronze™ Evergreen Distylium makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.