Distylium True

About this plant

Distylium x Swing Low ‘First Editions’, also known as Distylium True, makes a superb evergreen groundcover or low-border plant, bringing a dynamic twist to traditional landscapes. Its attractive blue-green leaves provide consistent color throughout the year, ensuring your garden remains vibrant even in the dormant seasons. In late winter to early spring, this remarkable shrub displays an unexpected charm with its tiny, spidery, reddish-maroon flowers that cling to the stems. These subtle blossoms add a touch of unexpected warmth and interest during a time when most other plants are still sleeping. Exceptionally resilient and low-maintenance, Distylium True is an excellent choice for a variety of landscape applications, from mass plantings and erosion control to foundation plantings and mixed borders. Its uniform, spreading habit creates a polished and sophisticated look.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Distylium x Swing Low ‘First Editions’ is a relatively low-maintenance shrub. Prune lightly as needed to maintain shape, preferably after flowering. It tolerates a range of soil types but prefers well-drained soil. Generally pest and disease resistant.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.