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Distylium racemosum

isu tree

A spreading shrub or tree with narrow ovate, leathery, glossy dark green leaves, 3-7cm long. Small flowers lacking petals, but with showy red calyces and purple stamens, are produced in upright racemes, 2.5-5cm long, in late spring and early summer

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Hamamelidaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Distylium are trees and shrubs with evergreen, leathery, usually dark green leaves and groups of petal-less flowers in the leaf axils
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Far East

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil in part shade, with shelter from strong cold winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe or propagate from semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1 but pruning is not usually necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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