Redbud Hazel

Disanthus cercidifolius is a species of flowering plant in the family Hamamelidaceae. It is native to woodland habitats in China and Japan.^[1]

Nomenclature

The term Disanthus refers to the flowers that come in axillary pairs. The Latin specific epithet cercidifolius means "with leaves like the redbud tree (Cercis)".^[2] The epithet was originally spelled D. cercidifolia.^[3] The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants stipulates that the Latin grammatical gender is masculine, and so the spelling is D. cercidifolius.^[4]

Description

Disanthus cercidifolius is a medium-sized deciduous shrub growing to 3 m (10 ft) tall and wide. It is noted for its heart-shaped leaves which turn to shades of red, purple and yellow in autumn.^[5][6]

• 

  2 flowers

• 

  2 fruits

• 

  fruit without seeds

• 

  leaf

Varieties

• Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes — endemic to China.

Cultivation

Disanthus cercidifolius is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is a calcifuge, requiring a lime-free soil.

The plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[7]

'Ena Nishiki' is a variegated cultivar with white and green foliage while 'Golden Crown' is a white and yellow variegated cultivar.

References