A magnificent and versatile shrub not just for garden fringes
THIS shrub may be known as fringe flower but it really should not be hidden in the fringes of your garden. Known botanically as Loropetalum chinense var rubrum, I believe a local landscaper first domesticated the plant in around 15 years ago.
The plant was an instant hit among gardeners with its clusters of red or pink flowers on top of the reddish leaves. The leaves would also change to variants of bronze red and olive green according to the level of exposure to sunlight.
Fringe flower belongs to the family Hamamelidaceae, which originated in China. There you can easily find this shrub being used as part of the landscape design for the parks in many cities.
Many are pruned and trimmed as bonsai. They are grown in pairs or in threes, and constantly being trimmed according to the desired shape.
The evergreen leaves form horizontal layers, which are good for bonsai. Mature plants with large stems are much sought after items for artistic bonsai designs in mainland China and overseas.
Planting tips
This horticultural shrub grows best in fertile and slightly acidic soil with exposure to full sun, which will ensure the plant has good colour and is hardy.
Planting in acidic soil is better than in an alkaline medium for long-term use. Use organic matter to amend heavy clay.
For pot planting, I would recommend a container large enough for a small tree to survive a short period of drought or no watering for about a week.
This is also to ensure there is enough room for the roots to spread. The pot needs to be filled with organic compost and a base of fertiliser for good establishment. Following subsequent growth, add generic fertiliser.
When transplanting from any container, always be careful by first watering thoroughly to loosen the soil in order to keep the root ball intact. For planting, we need to loosen the roots around the root ball or even prune some of the aged roots to encourage new growth.
For ground planting, do not dig too deep down. Keep the soil level with the surrounding ground to ensure the roots can spread out for good growth.
Water the newly-planted shrub well to ensure good root establishment. Stake the shrub to prevent it from being blown
over during a thunderstorm or windy weather.
We can grow this shrub in a column style by continuously trimming and training the leader stems to a good height of one metre. This would require at least three years to establish for good specimens. Propagation
For faster propagation, taking root cuttings is faster than cutting the aerial portion of the branches. Adding rooting hormone can increase the chances of success for new root establishment. Keep the cuttings moist for four to six weeks until well-rooted. Then transplant into individual bags for a few months. Once well established, the plantings can be transferred into the ground or container.
Fertiliser
Most plants need regular all-purpose fertiliser – either specific or generic NPK fertilisers, apart from organic ingredients. In principle, use a higher dose of nitrogen content for foliage or leafy plants. As we wish to encourage flowering, choose a fertiliser with a higher phosphorous content.
In case this inorganic fertiliser is water soluble, we have to ensure that it is mixed well. When using granulated pellet fertiliser, normally we will scatter it on the ground lightly under the outer branches of foliage, which should cover the root sphere. Water well and deeply to allow the fertiliser to dissolve into the soil.
Remember that this plant is sensitive to deficiency in micro-elements, especially when planting it in alkane soil. This can slow growth and cause plants to decline. So be sure not to add any lime or dolomite to this particular shrub.
I hope you have been inspired to try planting fringe flowers for elegant displays of both foliage and flowers. Do send me an email if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. Happy gardening.