Distylium Blue Cascade

Distylium x 'Blue Cascade' is a new evergreen shrub that has many qualities. Although not widely used in our gardens, it is disease-resistant and tolerant to drought and heat, while also accommodating moist soils. In moderately cold climates, this hybrid variety is an excellent alternative to boxwood or other evergreen honeysuckles in a small hedge or even in a large pot, as it has a real personality. Elegant, it is also unique with its cascading, dense and compact foliage of a beautiful matte green-blue colour which turns bronze when budding.  Hardy down to -15 °C (5 °F), it prefers north-facing sun, partial shade in hot climates, and dislikes excessively chalky soils.

Distylium x 'Blue Cascade' is a horticultural hybrid obtained by cross-breeding Distylium myricoides and Distylium racemosus, two species native to East and Southeast Asia belonging to the Hamamelidaceae family. It blooms in late winter or early spring (March-April), offering axillary clusters of small petal-less flowers composed of reddish-brown stamens. This distylium forms a bush reaching approximately 1.3 m(4 ft 4 in) in height, a little more in width, with a fairly slow growth. Its arched, spreading, and layered branches give it a unique cascading habit. Its evergreen foliage is composed of small, leathery, entire, alternate, obovate to lanceolate leaves, copper-bronze in spring, becoming emerald-green and matte, with very distinct bluish reflections throughout the rest of the year. They resemble laurel leaves in shape but are disease-free.

Distylium Blue Cascade, a plant that provides accent and structure like dwarf conifers, will find its place in a small hedge, as well as in a shrub or perennial bed. Interesting for its blue foliage in winter, it can be combined with forsythias, Japanese quinces, or dogwoods that will harmonise well with its colourful young shoots and its flowering throughout spring. It fits well into Japanese gardens, as well as in dry land shrub beds, as it tolerates the lack of water in deep soil. Nandinas, Choysias, tin laurels, and Myrtus Tarentina, for example, can accompany it in a small evergreen hedge. It also grows very well in pots and its branches can be used in floral arrangements.

Boxwoods have been facing some difficulties for the past ten years due to a disease that causes them to wither and which spreads rapidly from one plant to another, leaving them dry quite quickly. Distylium is an excellent alternative that is not susceptible to this extremely devastating fungus.