Distylium Swing Low #3-Deer Resistant

Are you tired of pruning bushes that seem determined to turn into trees the second you turn your back?

Meet the Distylium ‘Swing Low’. It knows how to stay low. While other foundation plants shoot straight up, ‘Swing Low’ spreads out. It has beautiful, blue-green leaves densely packed on horizontal branches. It’s the perfect solution for that awkward spot where everything else gets too tall.

If you’ve lived in the Triad for long, you know our soil can be a bit… moody. Sometimes it’s rock-hard dry clay; other times it’s a soggy mess. ‘Swing Low’ is one of the few plants that genuinely doesn't care. It handles the wet springs in Stokes County just as well as the dry spells in Forsyth. It’s also incredibly heat-tolerant, so it won’t scorch when the July humidity hits 90%.

Why We Recommend It:

• The “Otto” Upgrade: For years, people planted ‘Otto Luyken’ Laurels for this look, only to watch them get riddled with shot-hole disease. ‘Swing Low’ gives you that same lush, low-growing look but is virtually disease-free. It’s the modern, healthier upgrade.

• No Pruning Required (Really): Because it grows wide rather than tall, you don’t have to constantly top it. It forms a nice, thick mat of foliage that naturally suppresses weeds, meaning less mulch and less work for you.

• Cool Blue Hues: Most foundation plants are a standard "grass green." This plant has a distinct blue-cast to the leaves. It looks fantastic paired with red brick houses or planted next to yellow/chartreuse plants (like Gold Mop Cypress) for contrast.

Best Used For:

• Under low windows and porches.

• Large groundcover for banks or slopes.

• Edging along a walkway.

• Commercial landscapes (because it’s so tough).

The Specs:

• Growth Rate: Moderate (fills in nicely).

• Mature Size: 2–3 ft tall x 4–6 ft wide.

• Sun/Soil: Full Sun to Part Shade. Adapts to wet or dry soil (very clay friendly).

Check out the full technical details on the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, or drive over to Mitchell’s Nusery. Ask us to show you the 'Swing Low'!