Disanthus – A Bright Shrub for Shade Gardens

The landscaping shrub Disanthus cercidifolius, also called ‚”Redbud Hazel” or ‚”Heart-leaved Disanthus,” provides brilliant leaf color and an unusual floral display when most gardens are winding down for the season. It’s a no-muss, no-fuss plant that deserves a starring role in many gardens.

Stunning Fall Foliage

Disanthus tops the list of shade plants when it comes to spectacular fall color. This deciduous shrub has 2- to 4-inch heart-shaped leaves that turn deep, wine red in the fall. The color display begins as early as August, if nights are cool, and lasts well into October.

Disanthus is not grown for its flowers, but it does produce a quirky floral display that provides additional autumn interest. In zone 6, its five-petaled burgundy flowers open in mid-October, just as the leaves turn their brightest. Although they are only about a half-inch across, and have almost no fragrance, the star-shaped flowers are abundant along the stems of the shrub, and they remain visible for a week or two after the leaves fall.

In spring and summer, the leaves are bright green and covered with downy hairs that hold water droplets after it rains.

Easy Maintenance: No Pruning, No Pests

A native of Japan, Disanthus is hardy in USDA zones 5-8, where it grows to about 10 feet (3 meters) with a similar spread. A cousin of the better-known witch hazel, Disanthus grows in a similar habitat. It prefers the same moist acid soil as rhododendrons and azaleas, thriving in partial shade and tolerating even deep shade, although its fall display will not be as colorful there.

It’s a low-maintenance shrub, requiring very little pruning, although in full shade it can get leggy and may need to be cut back periodically. If the leaves turn yellow in spring or summer, the plant may require an application of a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

Unlike witch hazel, it is not attractive to aphids, tent caterpillars or powdery mildew. The shrub does not tolerate alkaline soil, however, so care must be taken when adding lime to a nearby lawn. Placing this shrub toward the back of a mixed border will protect its roots from more alkaline areas.

Disanthus works well when situated among native perennial species and spring ephemerals in a shade garden, and also as a foundation planting. Although it is not yet widely known, this shrub deserves to be in more gardens, thanks to its beautiful, three-season foliage, its understated but attractive flowers and its easy care.