Loropetalum blooms are stealing the show
Despite the unusual color palette loropetalums add to the landscape, they’re like other shrubs; we take note when they go into bloom, then ignore them the rest of the year.
Spring is note-taking season. Unlike the flamboyant display of azaleas that could catch your attention from a moving car (or train), loropetalums lure you in for closer inspection with each wave of their delicate, wispy flowers.
Chinese fringe flower, Chinese witch hazel and pink fringe flower are common references given to Loropetalum chinense. In Greek, the name comes from the flower description; loron means thong or strap and petalum means petal. The tiny ribbons wave in the wind, reminiscent of their distant relative witch hazel, Hamamelis; both are in the Hamamelidaceae family.
Native to China and Japan, loropetalum has adapted well to the Texas climate. They are (relatively) deer resistant, fairly fast growing and naturally long-branched shrubs. Pruning, as is common, removes the natural grace of the shrub’s form.
Both white ( L. chinense) and red varieties ( L. chinense var. rubrum) abound, but red has caught the attention of homeowners and breeders. The intensity of red/ fuchsia/purple is stunning enough to shock both viewer and cellphone camera.
Hardy and showy, leaf variations come in pink, purple, burgundy, green and variegated. The slightly fragrant blooms are pink, white, purple or red. This color palette contrasts well with lighter colors and textures in the landscape. Keep in mind that red recedes and makes spaces appear smaller, so if you have a small yard, it may be best to pair with brighter colors, so depth is not
lost.
Sizes abound to fit any space for accent plants, containers, mass planting, hedges, and with a few cultivars, ground cover.
Cultural Conditions
Loropetalum requires full sun (at least six hours is recommended) to part shade (afternoon shade) to maintain the intended foliage color and produce flowers. The shrubs are not fussy about location, but they like well-draining, acidic soil and appreciate the addition of compost.
Planting and care
Plant 1 to 2 inches above ground, using the same soil from the hole and mulch 3 to 4 inches deep. Branches can break off when handling. Be sure the mulch does not touch the plant’s stem. Water needs are low once established but may need to be supplemented during dry periods or extended high heat. Use a slow-release fertilizer only in late spring and no later.
These glorious shrubs handle shearing that is common with hedges, but it is best to prune out entire branches. Instead, encourage natural form with a modest amount of tip pruning for minor size control. However, if they are being newly planted, just plant the right size in the right spot. If that is done, they are low maintenance.
‘Purple Pixie’ is a dense, low mounding, dwarf shrub with a tendency to weep. At just 1 to 2 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, it works as a ground cover, on a slope or as a specimen plant. Dark pink foliage is yearround with dark pink flower petals in the spring (repeat blooms). No pruning needed. ‘Purple Diamond’ is a semidwarf, compact shrub with a spreading habit. It grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. Placing in the right spot for its size, it could serve as a hedge, foundation or mass planting, or as an accent. Intense pink flowers appear in the spring and may bloom again in the fall. Dark purple foliage grows throughout the plant and remains year-round.
‘Carolina Midnight’ is a tall, upright shrub that grows from 8-15 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. Burgundy foliage is one of the darkest of the loropetalums. Fuchsia flowers bloom in spring.
‘Cerise Charm’ is described as “well-behaved” in habit. It is a compact, mounded dwarf cultivar growing 3-4 feet tall and wide. Burgundy petals bloom 2-4 weeks later than others. Foliage is dark plum year-round.
‘Razzleberri’ is a cultivar with an identity crisis. It appears that ‘Monraz,’ ‘Blush’ and possibly ‘Raspberry Fringe’ are all aliases of the one plant. ‘Blush’ was one of two first pink-flowered cultivars introduced from Japan. Dense and vertical with a round shape, it grows 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. A naturalized setting would allow the true shape to shine as an accent, in a border or in a container. Raspberry red petals appear throughout the year, with the heaviest bloom in spring. New leaves are bronze red; they mature to olive green, providing an interesting multicolored effect.
‘Jazz Hands Variegated,’ the first variegated leaf cultivar with pink blooms and pink, white and green leaves. ‘Jazz Hands Dwarf Pink’ and ‘Jazz Hands Dwarf White’ are 1 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide with dark pink blooms/pink-burgundy foliage and white petals/green foliage, respectively. ‘Emerald Snow’ grows 4 feet tall and wide with bright green foliage and white petals. ‘Ever Red’ is a compact shrub of 5-6 feet in both directions with red petals (the reddest of all) and burgundy foliage.
Potential issues and solutions or preventatives
If the plant rarely flowers and is in enough sun, the blooms may have been removed with a late pruning. Excessive pruning over years can create uneven growth inside the shrub. Too much shade, too much heat, or too alkaline a soil can revert leaf color. Despite having few pest problems, older shrub leaves can lose their luster and turn yellow. All of these are minor offenses. The biggest drawback? In certain neighborhoods, loropetalums are simply overplanted.
While not native, loropetalum has adapted well to Texas and provides year-round interest with its colorful evergreen leaves.