Get your hands dirty with us!
Subscribe for tips, inspiration, and exclusive offers.
Little Champ™ Distylium | Distylium x 'DISmd-26-18' PPAFF
2 Gallon Plant - Best Value
$64.99
Skip to product information
Little Champ™ Distylium | Distylium x 'DISmd-26-18' PPAFF
$64.99
Little Champ™ Distylium | Distylium x 'DISmd-26-18' PPAFF | Bloomin' Easy® Exclusive
🏆 BEST VALUE: Premium 2 Gallon — Landscape Ready
Our 2-gallon Little Champ™ Distylium is a finished, field-grown specimen grown to professional landscaper standards. Skip the wait — this size establishes faster, fills in quicker, and delivers that lush, polished look from day one. The same quality your local nursery pro would choose.
Our 2-gallon Little Champ™ Distylium is a finished, field-grown specimen grown to professional landscaper standards. Skip the wait — this size establishes faster, fills in quicker, and delivers that lush, polished look from day one. The same quality your local nursery pro would choose.
💰 STEP UP: Premium 3 Gallon — Maximum Impact
Want even faster results? Our 3-gallon specimen gives you a larger, more established plant right out of the box — ideal for hedges, borders, and statement plantings where size matters from the start.
Want even faster results? Our 3-gallon specimen gives you a larger, more established plant right out of the box — ideal for hedges, borders, and statement plantings where size matters from the start.
📦 FILL MY BOX & SAVE — 15% Off When You Fill Your Box!
Buy enough Little Champ™ Distylium plants to fill your box and save 15% automatically at checkout. Perfect for hedges, mass plantings, or filling a border — the more you plant, the more you save.
✅ Savings apply automatically at checkout — no code needed.
Buy enough Little Champ™ Distylium plants to fill your box and save 15% automatically at checkout. Perfect for hedges, mass plantings, or filling a border — the more you plant, the more you save.
✅ Savings apply automatically at checkout — no code needed.
Why Little Champ™ Distylium is Trending in 2026
- One of the most deer-resistant evergreen shrubs available — no more losing plants to browsing
- Thrives in shade to part shade where most shrubs struggle
- Compact 1–2' height makes it perfect for tight spaces, borders, and low hedges
- Virtually maintenance-free — no constant pruning or babying required
- Exclusive Bloomin' Easy® genetics from Canada's premier nursery — rare and hard to find
What This Plant Does For You
- Transforms shady, problem spots into lush, year-round green spaces
- Creates a clean, polished hedge or border without the upkeep
- Brings winter interest with delicate red blooms when most gardens go dormant
- Gives your landscape a professional, finished look that holds all four seasons
- Eliminates the frustration of deer damage — plant it and enjoy it
Plant Highlights
- Mature Size: 1–2' H × 2–3' W
- Bloom: Delicate red flowers, winter to early spring
- Hardiness Zones: 7–9
- Light: Shade to Part Shade
- Water Needs: Occasional — drought tolerant once established
- Foliage: Evergreen, rich green year-round
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Deer Resistant: Yes
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Type: Evergreen Shrub
- Brand: Bloomin' Easy® | Grown by The Plant Factory
→ Add to Cart Now — Limited Stock Available
Premium Features & Solutions
Little Champ™ Distylium solves the problems that frustrate most gardeners. Shady spots that kill other plants? Little Champ thrives there. Deer that demolish your landscape? They leave this one alone. Soil that's too wet, too dry, or just unpredictable? This plant handles it all with minimal fuss.
Use it as a low hedge along walkways, a mass planting under trees, a foundation shrub, or a refined specimen in a mixed border. Its compact, tidy habit means you won't be constantly cutting it back — just plant it and let it do its thing.
Choose Your Size: The 2-gallon is our most popular option — landscape-ready and fast to establish. The 3-gallon gives you a larger, more mature specimen for immediate visual impact in hedges and borders.
Smart Growing Guide
🌱 Beginner Guide — Click to Expand
- Choose a spot with shade to part shade — under trees or on a north-facing wall is perfect.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.
- Place the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
- Backfill with native soil, water deeply, and add a 2–3" layer of mulch around the base.
- Water once or twice a week for the first 4–6 weeks while it establishes.
- After establishment, water only during extended dry spells — this plant is tough!
- Prune lightly in early spring if needed to shape — otherwise, leave it alone.
🔬 Advanced Guide — Click to Expand
- Soil pH: 5.5–6.5 optimal; tolerates a wide range including clay and compacted soils.
- Fertilize once in early spring with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar).
- For hedge use, space plants 18–24" apart for a tight, formal look; 30–36" for a natural drift.
- Prune immediately after any winter bloom period ends to maximize next season's bud set.
- In Zone 7, provide light protection in the first winter after planting for best establishment.
- Excellent candidate for rain gardens and bioswales — handles periodic wet feet well.
Pro Tips for Maximum Impact
- Mass plant 3–5 together under a tree canopy for a dramatic, low-maintenance groundcover effect.
- Pair with Encore Azaleas or Loropetalum for a layered shade garden with year-round color.
- Use along a fence line as a natural, deer-proof privacy screen that stays tidy without pruning.
- Mulch heavily at planting — it retains moisture and speeds up establishment significantly.
- Order your Fill My Box quantity now while stock is available — this variety sells out fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the difference between the 2-gallon and 3-gallon?
A: Both are the same premium Little Champ™ genetics. The 2-gallon is our landscape-ready workhorse — fast to establish and the best value. The 3-gallon is a larger, more mature specimen for immediate impact in hedges and focal plantings.
Q: How does the Fill My Box savings work?
A: Add enough Little Champ™ Distylium plants to fill your box and your 15% discount applies automatically at checkout — no coupon code needed.
Q: Is this plant truly deer resistant?
A: Yes — Distylium is one of the most reliably deer-resistant shrubs available. While no plant is 100% deer-proof in extreme conditions, Little Champ™ is consistently passed over by deer.
Q: Can it grow in full shade?
A: It thrives in shade to part shade. Deep, dense shade may reduce vigor slightly, but it handles low-light conditions far better than most ornamental shrubs.
Q: How fast does it grow?
A: Growth rate is fast for a compact shrub. Expect 6–12" of new growth per season under good conditions.
Q: What zones does it grow in?
A: Zones 7–9. It's cold and heat tolerant within that range.
Q: Is it pet safe?
A: Yes — Little Champ™ Distylium is considered pet friendly.
Q: How many should I plant for a hedge?
A: For a tight, formal hedge, space plants 18–24" apart. For a natural, flowing border, 30–36" spacing works well. Use the Fill My Box discount to save when ordering hedge quantities.
Q: When does it bloom?
A: Delicate red flowers appear in winter to early spring — a beautiful surprise when most of the garden is dormant.
Q: Will it stay evergreen in Zone 7?
A: Yes — it's a true evergreen that holds its foliage year-round in Zones 7–9.
🚨 Take Action Now — Stock Is Limited
Little Champ™ Distylium from Bloomin' Easy® is an exclusive variety that's hard to find. We grow it right here at The Plant Factory to our premium standards — and when it's gone, it's gone. Don't miss your window to add this standout evergreen to your landscape.
→ Add to Cart Now
Little Champ™ Distylium from Bloomin' Easy® is an exclusive variety that's hard to find. We grow it right here at The Plant Factory to our premium standards — and when it's gone, it's gone. Don't miss your window to add this standout evergreen to your landscape.
→ Add to Cart Now
Ordering & Shipping
Our processing time is typically 1–3 days after receiving your order. Orders placed after 4:00 PM Wednesday through Sunday ship the following Monday. We offer the very best shipping processes to ensure quick, safe, and near-perfect results every time. Cold and heat may temporarily hold your order until it is safe to ship — we will hold at our discretion to ensure you receive the healthiest, most viable plant possible.
Summer/Winter Shipping Restrictions: Summer above 95°F | Winter below 34°F
Note: The images and videos on our site are the best way to show off our products and show how good we are as growers. Depending on the season you buy, you may get a plant that is smaller or bigger than the picture shows. The plant might bloom like it does on our site, but it might not. We cut off the blooms most of the time because they don't ship well. When you buy our plants, think of them as an investment in your future garden, and enjoy the process of seeing it grow to its fullest.