What a Versatile and Attractive Shrub - Dystilium

This little jewel has become the answer for many homeowners who are getting away from high-growing, dense-wooded trees they try to maintain as shrubs or, other shrubs which overtake their home, hiding it and creating a maintenance disaster.

The one you see here is the Vintage Jade Dystilium. I have seen more of these over the years as many property owners are overcoming the 1970's landscaping schemes which have persisted up until today by developers and landscape architects.

I have pruned (well-thought thinning cuts) many and they can be easily maintained or brought back to an airy plant which adorns your home rather than obscures it like the hedge rows in the countryside of western France. They can also be used in almost any bed arrangement where you want an inviting evergreen with no disease or pest issues. Dystiliums typically maintain the same gloss and rich color throughout the year in this region and many others. You may wish to plant them close together and allow them to grow more densely to create a border or a low screen.

We recently restored a bed for a customer for whom we are so thankful for providing very many plant and pruning projects.

It's a beautiful property and becoming more so over the months through time from us and the attention of the owners.

This foundation bed had become uglied by indian hawthorns dying from entomosporium (see Tumbling Tumbleweeds) and some japanese hollies which hadn't followed suit with the other healthy and gorgeous ones on the property.

These girls, which reach a mature height of about three to four feet (not hiding the windows and its framework) and a mature spread of four to five feet, may slightly mingle with one another's branches, which can easily be pruned to show separation, if desired.

Once established, they can endure most any soil condition and can endure drought. What a blessing for a homeowner.

These Dystiliums will be growing like gangbusters next spring and summer - showing off petite red flowers come winter.

Note: We installed a drip line system and re-established and slightly re-shaped the bed border - the little stuff matters, so much.

Thanks again, J and R!