Loropetalum Red - 5" Pot

Loropetalum chinense, commonly called the Chinese fringe flower, is an evergreen shrub from the witch-hazel family with arching branches and dense, oval leaves. The popular burgundy-leaved forms (var. rubrum) carry striking pink to magenta spider-like blooms, while the species type has green foliage and creamy-white flowers.

In India it is widely grown as a hedge, border filler, foundation planting or container specimen. It thrives in the milder hill stations and does well across most plains gardens with afternoon shade, flowering mainly in spring with sporadic flushes through the warm season.

Easy to maintain and tolerant of light pruning, it is valued for the long-lasting colour its coloured-leaf cultivars bring to landscapes year round.

Specifications

Care guide

Uses

<ul><li>Colourful evergreen hedge or screen</li><li>Foundation and border planting in mixed beds</li><li>Container and patio specimen</li><li>Year-round foliage colour from burgundy-leaved cultivars</li><li>Trainable as a small standard or informal bonsai subject</li></ul>

Growing tips

<p>Plant during the cooler months (Oct-Feb in the plains) so roots establish before summer heat. In hot regions site it where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch.</p><p>Mulch the base to keep roots cool and moist, and feed with an acid-loving fertiliser in spring for the best foliage colour. Prune right after the spring flush to keep plants compact, and ease off watering during the monsoon to avoid root rot.</p>