Coppertone Distylium - 3 Gallon

Coppertone Distylium - Colorful Evergreen Low Hedge Drought Tolerant | 3-4 ft, Single Plant

Experience stunning year-round color with copper-orange new growth that transitions to rich green in this ultra-low-maintenance evergreen shrub. The Coppertone Distylium is a compact, slow-growing evergreen that delivers exceptional foliage interest with distinctive copper-toned new growth and excellent drought tolerance once established. This exceptional, colorful hedge plant has become a landscape professional's preferred choice for creating vibrant, low-maintenance borders and foundation plantings in challenging conditions. With its unique copper-colored new growth that emerges throughout the growing season and remarkable heat and drought tolerance, the Coppertone Distylium transforms ordinary landscapes into colorful, water-wise garden spaces. The dense, fine-textured branching habit and consistent 3-4 foot mature size create perfect low hedging and foundation accents while providing continuous seasonal color interest. Unlike traditional green hedge plants that require frequent watering and maintenance, these drought-tolerant evergreens provide striking foliage color and reliable performance that actually improves with minimal care and water once established.

Why You'll Love the Coppertone Distylium

Stunning Copper New Growth: Distinctive copper-orange new growth emerges continuously throughout the growing season against rich green mature foliage, making this the perfect choice for adding unique color contrast and seasonal interest to any landscape.

Ultra-Low Maintenance Performance: Plant 3-4 feet apart for hedging and they quickly form neat, colorful borders requiring minimal pruning or care. These drought-tolerant shrubs have proven exceptional performance in heat, humidity, and challenging soil conditions.

Outstanding Drought Tolerance: Thrives in USDA zones 7-9 with remarkable heat and drought resistance once established. Once mature, these shrubs require minimal supplemental watering and demonstrate excellent tolerance to urban pollution and salt exposure.

Versatile Hedge Excellence: A perfect water-wise landscaping choice due to its natural compact form, disease resistance, and minimal water requirements - ideal for modern landscapes requiring beautiful, sustainable plant solutions with maximum visual impact.

Coppertone Distylium Details

• Botanical Name: Distylium 'PIIDIST-I' (Coppertone)
• Type: Evergreen ornamental shrub
• Mature Size: 3–4 ft tall × 4–5 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate — up to 6–12 inches per year
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained; highly adaptable to various soil types
• Water: Low; drought-tolerant once established
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7, 8, 9

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Highly adaptable to various soil types from sandy to clay-based conditions, including poor soils and urban environments. However, well-draining soil produces optimal growth and color development, while consistently wet conditions can lead to root issues and reduced performance.

Light Requirements: Performs well in full sun to partial shade, with best foliage coloration in locations receiving at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Optimal placement in full sun locations results in the most intense copper new growth color and compact habit.

Hardiness: USDA zones 7-9, making it suitable for warm temperate to subtropical climates across the southeastern United States and mild winter regions of the Southwest.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system, then minimal supplemental watering is needed. Established plants are extremely drought-tolerant and actually prefer drier conditions once mature.

Pruning: Requires minimal pruning due to naturally compact growth habit. Light shaping can be done in late winter or early spring if desired, though natural form is typically preferred.

Fertilizing: Generally requires no fertilization due to excellent adaptability to poor soils. If desired, apply light-balanced fertilizer in early spring, but avoid over-fertilizing, which can reduce drought tolerance.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Coppertone Distylium's versatility makes it suitable for: low hedging, foundation plantings, mass plantings, water-wise gardens, urban landscapes, and coastal plantings.

Water-Wise Garden Excellence: Creates stunning, colorful hedging that thrives in drought conditions and poor soils, unlike traditional hedge plants that require constant irrigation and soil amendments to maintain appearance and health.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Coppertone Distylium for low hedging? Plant 3-4 feet apart for low hedging or foundation use, or 4-5 feet apart for mass plantings. The naturally spreading habit fills in well without requiring close spacing or frequent maintenance.

How drought-tolerant is Coppertone Distylium and when does the copper color appear? Once established (typically after first growing season), it requires minimal to no supplemental watering. Copper-colored new growth appears continuously throughout the growing season, most prominently during spring and fall growth flushes.

Does Coppertone Distylium require special soil conditions or frequent pruning? No, it adapts to various soil types, including poor, urban soils, and requires minimal pruning due to its naturally compact growth habit. It actually performs better with minimal inputs once established.