Abstract: ‘Liji’is a new cultivar selected from the natural population of Distylium buxifolium distributed in southwestern Zhejiang Province. It is an evergreen shrub with slender and soft branches. The leaves are elliptic,lanceolate or oblanceolate,small in size within the length of 1.8-3.3 cm and the width of 0.5-1.0 cm. In spring,the young leaves at the top of new shoots are purplish red or pink,and then gradually turn to yellowish green or tender green with the leaves unfolding. The leaf margins of young leaves are dark red,and finally become yellow and translucent in the mature leaves. The anthers are red. The blossom date is during February to March in Lishui City,Zhejiang Province. It has good salt tolerance. It is suitable for color blocks in gardens and flower borders. It can be cultivated in regions south of the Yangtze River in China.

Key words: Distylium buxifolium, Distylium, salt-tolerant, cultivar