Heat-Tolerant Broadleaf Evergreens - Meet Distylium Shrubs

Charlotte Weidner | February 14, 2026

These red-hot evergreen landscape plants are experiencing a surge of popularity, and it's no wonder! Distylium are easy-to-care-for broadleaved evergreens that bring marvelous texture to gardens in growing zones 7 to 9.

Distantly related to Witch Hazel, these Winter Hazels grow well in mild winters and hot summers. Modern plant breeders have been hard at work to create a beautiful collection of Distylium!

Distylium Selection Guide

Low-growing hedges, property definition, garden filler, backdrops, or year-round colorful edging, Distylium would blend into the background and become invisible to notice were it not for their gorgeous color-changing foliage and unique blossoms! The winter blooms are red and appear at a great time for pollinators to enjoy.

You'll either appreciate their sculptural, free-form growth habit in your shrub borders or keep them pruned to shape and make a dynamic foundation plant. Use the graceful, mounding form of this low-growing spreader as a mass planting. Clip them into formal hedges, or keep them as a living sculpture with red flowers in winter.

Wonderful alternatives to Boxwood, Holly, and Privet, check out the many varieties available at Nature Hills:

Bayou Bliss® Distylium - A 3-4 foot tall and wide shrub with rows of evenly paired leaves that thrives in the heat and humidity of the Southern US. A great alternative to Boxwood, the colorful new growth ages to a cool blue-green.
First Editions® Coppertone Distylium - Featuring large, blue-green foliage, spreading adds colorful, coppery new growth in spring. Red, strappy flowers decorate the winter season. Best of all, adaptable Coppertone is seriously low-maintenance!
First Editions® Vintage Jade Distylium - brings glossy blue-green evergreen foliage on arching branches. You'll also have a winter display of showy maroon blooms for living holiday decorations.
Add First Editions® Linebacker Distylium - for vertical height and a broad-leaved evergreen privacy screen. Linebacker is an easy-care selection that performs well in full sun or partial shade. They also tolerate both periodic drought and dampness.
Blue Cascade® Evergreen Distylium - is known for its perky blue-green leaves with silvery backsides that blush from red to burgundy from January to March! More cold-hardy than other Distylium, the matte leaves tend to absorb light, which makes its color purer and clearer, giving it a multi-layered effect. The Blue Cascades® branches grow horizontally in a layered habit, which will give your garden a fuller, denser, more interesting blanket of foliage.
Cast in Bronze® Distylium - emerges a bronzy pink in the spring and has arching branches full of alternating foliage that matures a variegated green and white. In winter, when the red blossoms appear, the entire shrub takes on a bronzy hue for the cooler months!
First Editions® Swing Low® Distylium - A unique offering compared to all the other selections in that it has smaller and more delicate foliage. Shiny and dark green leaves are fine-textured and beautiful. The broadleaf evergreen leaves have a bluish cast, and they are very densely arranged all along the stems, so the plants offer a classic look.
First Editions® Cinnamon Girl® Distylium - is a landscape workhorse with year-round blue-green broadleaf evergreen leaves, cinnamon accents to the foliage, and the winter flush of rosy red flowers. Cinnamon Girl® then shows off when the new leaves emerge plum-purple!

Distylium Tips For Care

These are widely adaptable shrubs that handle both full sun and partial shade. Plant in any kind of well-drained soil, but Distylium can be planted in a low-lying area that stays wet periodically.

Provide a regular amount of water while your plants are young. After their roots are established, these shrubs become drought-tolerant. Apply an all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer in spring. Follow the directions on the label.

Prune in late winter to shape your shrub. Follow the line of the shrub for the best results. Remove damaged or crossing branches. Once it is fully mature, you can remove a few of the older stems to the ground as a renewal pruning every other year or so. The thinner, younger stems will have the best color.

While deer don't tend to bother this plant much, we do recommend that you apply deer repellent on new plants. In areas with heavy deer pressure, they get very hungry and curious. Reapply according to the instructions.

Choose Your Distylium Today!

Nature Hills Nursery delivers commercial landscape-grade plant materials across the continental United States. Please hurry to place your order for your favorite because we sell out quickly every year. Place your order at any time, and we'll ship your Winter Hazel plant when the time is right for planting in your area!

If you're wondering where to buy Winter Hazel plants, you've come to the right place!

Happy Planting!

Previous Next

Frequently Asked Questions

Is distylium evergreen?

Yes, distylium is a broadleaf evergreen that maintains its foliage year-round in zones 7-9. Unlike needle evergreens, distylium features attractive broad leaves that often change color seasonally while staying on the plant. These heat-tolerant shrubs provide consistent structure and texture to your landscape through all seasons, plus bonus winter blooms. Consider distylium as a low-maintenance alternative to boxwood or holly for hedges, foundation plantings, or privacy screens.

How to prune distylium?

Distylium shrubs can be pruned for formal hedges or left in their natural sculptural form depending on your landscape needs. Since these evergreens bloom in winter with attractive red flowers, time any major pruning for late winter to early spring after flowering ends. Light trimming and shaping can be done throughout the growing season in zones 7-9. For best results, use clean, sharp pruning shears and make cuts just above outward-facing buds to maintain the plant's natural mounding shape.

What USDA hardiness zones are best for planting Distylium shrubs?

Distylium shrubs thrive in USDA hardiness zones 7-9, with some varieties tolerating zone 6 with winter protection. These heat-tolerant evergreens perform exceptionally well in the warmer regions of the South and Southeast where temperatures rarely drop below 0°F. For best results, plant in spring after the last frost date to allow establishment before winter.

Do deer eat distylium?

Distylium shrubs are generally deer resistant due to their tough, leathery evergreen foliage that deer typically avoid browsing. These hardy broadleaf evergreens maintain their deer resistance year-round in zones 7-9, making them excellent alternatives to more vulnerable plants like hostas or azaleas. While no plant is completely deer-proof during times of extreme food scarcity, distylium's natural characteristics make it a reliable choice for areas with deer pressure. Plant distylium confidently in deer-prone areas, but consider additional protection for newly planted specimens until they establish.

When is the best time to plant Distylium in the garden?

The best time to plant Distylium is in early spring after the last frost date or in early fall, 6-8 weeks before your first expected hard freeze. In zones 7-9, fall planting is particularly advantageous as it allows the root system to establish during cooler weather before facing summer heat stress. Spring planting works well in colder zones where fall-planted shrubs might suffer winter damage before becoming established. Plan to water newly planted Distylium regularly for the first growing season, providing about 1 inch of water weekly until roots are well-established.

How often should I water newly planted Distylium shrubs?

Water newly planted Distylium shrubs deeply 2-3 times per week for the first 4-6 weeks, providing about 1 inch of water each time. During establishment in zones 7-9, check soil moisture by inserting your finger 2-3 inches deep - if dry, it's time to water. After the first growing season, these drought-tolerant shrubs typically need supplemental watering only during extended dry periods. Focus watering at the root zone rather than overhead to promote deep root development and prevent fungal issues.

Are the branches on grevillea scarlet moon climable?

I notice there's a mismatch between your question about Grevillea Scarlet Moon and the provided article about Distylium shrubs. The article doesn't contain any information about Grevillea varieties or their climbing characteristics. To properly answer your question about whether Grevillea Scarlet Moon branches are climbable, I would need specific information about that plant's growth habit, branch structure, and mature size. Could you provide the correct article or plant information you'd like me to reference for this FAQ answer?

Is distylium deer resistant?

Distylium shrubs are highly deer resistant due to their tough, leathery evergreen foliage that deer typically avoid. These hardy broadleaf evergreens thrive in zones 7-9 and maintain their deer-deterrent qualities year-round, even during winter when food sources are scarce. Plant distylium varieties like Bayou Bliss or Coppertone as natural deer barriers around more vulnerable plants, or use them to create deer-resistant foundation plantings and hedges.

What soil types does Distylium prefer, and can it handle clay or sandy soils?

Distylium shrubs are remarkably adaptable to various soil types, including both clay and sandy soils, as long as drainage is adequate. These heat-tolerant evergreens prefer well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH but will tolerate poor soils that challenge other broadleaf evergreens. In zones 7-9, Distylium performs well in amended clay soils and handles sandy conditions better than traditional alternatives like Boxwood. For best results, improve heavy clay with organic matter or plant on a slight slope to ensure proper drainage.

How much sun or shade is best for Distylium shrubs, and what happens if planted in full shade?

Distylium shrubs perform best in partial sun to partial shade conditions, thriving with morning sun and afternoon protection in zones 7-9. While they can tolerate some shade, planting in full shade will result in reduced flowering, leggy growth, and less vibrant foliage color changes. Full shade locations may also increase susceptibility to fungal issues due to poor air circulation. For optimal performance and winter blooms, choose a site with at least 4-6 hours of filtered sunlight daily.