GROWING LOROPETALUM - CARING FOR CHINESE FRINGE FLOWER

Zones:

7-10

Height/Spread:

Uprightmoundingor spreading habit1 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 10 feet wide depending on variety

Exposure:

Full sun to light shade; bloom and foliage color is best with at least 6 hours of full sun. Provide some afternoon shade in hotter climates.

Bloom time:

Mid-springwith some re-bloom throughout the year

Flower color and characteristics:

Tassel-like flowers with strappyribbon-like petals occur in prolific clusters up and down the branches. Bloom is heaviest in springwith smallersporadic re-bloom at different times of the year. Flowers are lightly fragrant. Tinycapsule-like fruits are insignificant.

Foliage color and characteristics:

This broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree has dense branching with smallopposite oval leaves 1 to 2-1/2 inches long. Fine-textured foliage comes in shades of burgundypurplechartreuse and green. Mature specimens can develop exfoliating bark.

Deer resistance:

Deer may leave loropetalum alone for the most partthough regional conditions can result in deer grazing on plants that aren't necessarily their favorites.

Toxicity:

All parts of loropetalum are non-toxic to dogscatsand children. Ingestion of any plants can cause mild stomach upset in some pets.

Jazz Hands Mini® Chinese fringe flower. Photo by Proven Winners.

When to plant:

Plant during milder months of spring or fall to avoid shock from extreme heat or cold.

Where to plant:

Grow in a sunny to lightly shaded site in a container or landscape. Plants will flower and retain color best in full sun.

How to plant:

Amend planting area as needed with compost or other rich organic mattermaking sure that soil is loose and well draining. Dig a hole 2 to 3 times the diameter and slightly shallower than the size of the root ball. Tease out circling roots or slash the root ball in several places if potbound. Place in the planting hole so the top of the root ball is level or slightly above the surrounding soil. Fill in the hole with soiltamp down gently to remove air pocketsand water well. Until plants are establishedcontinue to water once or twice a week. Spacing depends on the variety.

Pruning:

Loropetalum looks best when allowed to grow to its full size and naturally graceful shapethough it can also tolerate heavy pruning into formal hedging or topiaries. Since loropetalum blooms on old woodwait until flowers are finished in spring before pruning. Trim out dead and diseased branches. Lightly shape as neededor prune to desired size and shape.

Soil:

Plant in richwell-draining soil that is amended with compost or other organic matter. Loropetalum prefers acidic pH between 4.5 to 6.5. In alkaline soil with pH above 7.0plants may develop chlorosisa nutritional deficiency that causes yellowing of the leaves. Add aluminum sulfate to increase soil acidity.

Amendments & fertilizer:

Loropetalum needs little or no supplemental fertilizer once established. If desiredfertilize in spring with a slow-release all-purpose fertilizeror one that is specially formulated for trees and shrubs. Apply according to package instructions. Mulch around the rootball with 2 to 3 inches of organic matter such as compoststrawor aged wood chips to suppress weeds and retain moisture; avoid covering the trunk and stems with the mulch.

Watering:

Keep soil evenly moistbut not soggy. Loropetalum is somewhat drought-tolerant once established. Water more frequently during extreme heat or dry spells in summer.

Diseases and pests:

When planted in optimal conditions and properly maintainedloropetalum exhibits fewif any problems. Possible diseases include mildewanthracnoseroot rotor bacterial gall. There are no significant pest problemsbut they can be susceptible to spider mites if kept too dry or in too much sun.

For borders and landscapes:

Largerquick-growing varieties will offer maximum impact. Use as hedgingscreening along a property lineas a background element in a mixed borderor massed in a bed or landscape.

For slopes and hillsides:

Select a dwarf or groundcover type that will fill in quicklysuch as Jazz Hands Mini® or ‘Purple Pixie’and mass along a bank or slope for erosion control.

For containers:

Choose a dwarf variety such as Jazz Hands® Dwarf White or Crimson Fire™ to grow in a decorative container and display in a key area such as an entrywaypatioor deck.

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Photo by: Proven Winners

Jazz Hands Variegated®syn. ‘Irodori’ —
Loropetalum chinense

Zones:

7-9

Height/Spread:

Upright bushy habit4 to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Mid-spring

Color:

Hot pink flowersvariegated foliage

As the first variegated form of Chinese fringe flowerthe unique eye-catching foliage makes a stunning statement in the landscape. New foliage has splotches of pinkdark greenand whitematuring to dark burgundy. Use as a stand-alone focal pointin mass plantings or as a container accent.

Photo by: Proven Winners

Jazz Hands Mini® —
Loropetalum chinense

Zones:

7-9

Height/Spread:

10 to 12 inches tall36 inches wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Mid-spring

Color:

Hot pink flowerspurple foliage

Bright pink blooms in mid-spring pop against the rich black-purple leavesmaking it perfect for the front of bordersdecorative containersor mass plantings.

Photo by: Proven Winners

Jazz Hands Bold® —
Loropetalum chinense

Zones:

7-9

Height/Spread:

5 to 6 feet tall and wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Mid-spring

Color:

Hot pink flowerspurple foliage

Featuring the largest leaves and flowers of any loropetalum! Vibrant pink blooms and oversizedround purple foliage—flushed with pink in spring—create a striking contrast that lasts all season. Perfect as a specimen plant or in mixed borders.

Photo by: Proven Winners

Jazz Hands Night Moves® —
L. chinense

Zones:

7-9

Height/Spread:

Mounding bushy habit2 to 4 feet tall and wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Late spring to frost

Color:

White flowersplum and variegated foliage

The unusual flower and foliage color combination is unlike any other type of ornamental shrub. As the season progressesnew foliage that develops on the ends of the plum-colored branches unfurls in a variegated pattern of whitedark green and purple. The dwarf size makes this a versatile choice as formal hedgingas a divider between garden roomsin mass plantings or containersor as a stand-alone focal point.

Photo by Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia.

Purple Pixie®syn. ‘Peack’
L. chinense

Zones:

7-10

Height/Spread:

Dwarf weeping habit1 to 2 feet tall and 4 to 5 wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Mid-springwith sporadic re-bloom

Color:

Pink flowersdark purple foliage

The spreadingweeping form of this groundcover type is different than any other variety. Vibrant pink flowers contrast dramatically with the deep purple foliage. Mass along a slope for erosion controlor add a colorful foliage accent to a containerhanging basket or window box. Due to its compact size‘Purple Pixie’ needs little or no pruning.

Photo by Doug Hall / Shutterstock.

‘Ruby’
L. chinense

Zones:

7-9

Height/Spread:

Mounding bushy habit4 to 5 feet tall and wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Mid-springwith sporadic re-bloom into fall

Color:

Pink flowers; new growth is ruby redfading to deep green

This reliable standby has a more compact rounded formmaking it a good choice for hedgingtopiariesfoundation or mass plantings. Use to edge a pathway or as a divider between garden rooms. Lightly prune after flowering to encourage new red growth.

Photo by Hort Pics / Millette Photomedia.

Ever Red®syn. ‘Chang Nian Hong’
L. chinense

Zones:

7-9

Height/Spread:

Upright bushy habit6 feet tall and wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Late winter to early springwith sporadic re-bloom throughout the growing season

Color:

Red flowersburgundy foliage

The truest red flowers of any loropetalumvivid spidery blooms stand out dramatically against the deep burgundy foliage. The medium-sized stature and slightly arching habit gives this variety a regal appearance. Use as hedgingin a mixed borderor as privacy screening along a property line. Ever Red® retains its rich foliage color better than most other varieties.

Photo by MILA PARH / Shutterstock.

Emerald Snow®syn. ‘Shang-white'
L. chinense

Zones:

7-10

Height/Spread:

Mounding bushy habit3 to 4 feet tall and wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Mid-springwith sporadic re-bloom into fall

Color:

White flowers; new foliage is chartreusefading to emerald green

In springplants are smothered with white blossomsan effect that looks like fallen snow. The layered habitsubtle color and dwarf stature makes it especially suited to Asian or contemporary landscapes. This versatile cultivar can be used in small spacescontainersmass and foundation plantingsas hedging along a pathwayor in a mixed border.

Photo by jaytee / Shutterstock.

Razzleberri®syn. ‘Razzleberry’‘Monraz’
L. chinense

Zones:

7-9

Height/Spread:

Upright arching habit4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Bloom Time:

Mid-springwith sporadic re-bloom throughout the year

Color:

Deep rose pink flowers; new foliage is burgundyfading to green

With a size similar to Purple Diamond®the raspberry-colored flowers accentuate the burgundy and green foliage. The gracefularching habit makes an elegant statement in the landscape. Use as hedgingprivacy screening or foundation planting.

Loropetalum alternatives:

For colder climates where lorapetalum isn’t hardythere are other purple-foliaged shrubs that can be substitutedthough they will be deciduous. These include Spilled Wine® weigela‘Royal Purple’ smoke bushSummer Wine® ninebark or ‘Crimson Pygmy’ barberry.

Container planting with Jazz Hands Variegated® loropetalum'Limelight' hydrangea,and Snow Princess® sweet alyssum beneath. Photo by Proven Winners.

There are many ways to incorporate loropetalum into your landscape. Here’s how:

• Use a larger variety as a dramatic backdrop in a mixed borderalong a wall or fence.
• For a unique looktrain a small-medium sized loropetalum into an espalier along a trellis or fence.
• A larger upright specimen can be trained into a small tree by removing the side branches from one or more of the main trunks as it grows.
• Mix purple-foliaged varietiessuch as Jazz Hands Bold® or Purple Diamond®with other green-foliaged shrubs or small trees to lend contrast and break up monochromatic color schemes.
• Grow a weeping form along the top of a low rock wall or on a slope to complement an Asian- landscape.
• Plant a smaller specimen in a ceramic pot with a similar or complementary color echo and place as a focal point near an entryway.
• Plant in a woodland border in combination with regional natives for a natural landscape that supports insect pollinators and wildlife.
• Plant a dwarf form such as ‘Daruma’ in a container and group with other containerized shrubsperennials or annuals for a year-round color display. Site in a key part of the garden such as a patiodeck or balcony.
• Plant in a mixed border or along your home’s foundation in combination with other shrubs with contrasting foliage colors of goldchartreuseblueor bronze. This will make the colors stand out more against each other. Suggested companions include ‘Goldflame’ spirea‘Gold Mop’ cypress‘Kaleidoscope’ abelia or ‘Blue Star’ juniper.

Companion Plants:

Loropetalum combines well with many other shrubstreesand perennials. Companions can include:

• Spiraea
• Lily turf
• Viburnum
• Agapanthus
• Japanese forest grass
• Lavender
• Heavenly bamboo
• Hydrangea
• Many types of Conifers