Plant field guide
Distyllium (Vintage Jade)
Low-spreading distyllium with rich blue-green foliage on dense, compact mounding form. A superb groundcover or low hedge that outperforms boxwood in the heat and humidity of the Southeast.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Distyllium 'PIIDIST-II'
- Sun
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 24 in (61 cm) – 36 in (91 cm)
- Spread
- 48 in (122 cm) – 72 in (183 cm)
- Spacing
- Not recorded
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 7–9; average annual extreme minimum from 0°F (-17.8°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: March, April.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
One of the best boxwood alternatives. Extremely heat, humidity, and drought tolerant. No boxwood blight or leafminer issues. Dense and clean-looking year-round.
Pruning
Light shaping if needed. Natural dense habit rarely needs pruning. Can be maintained as low hedge.
Fertilizer
Balanced slow-release
Early spring
Mulch
2 inches of organic mulch.