Product Description:
Loropetalum are a group of shrubs typically grown in southern states. These are flowering evergreens that grow in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. Loropetalum shrubs are part of the witch-hazel family. Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) is shrub. A relative newcomer to the gardening scene, it has a winning combination of showy evergreen foliage and bright coloured flowers. It’s highly ornamental – its crinkled oval leaves are borne in shades of red, pink, or purple, and its colourful, late winter flowers have a light fragrance. Loropetalum is a small shrub with a compact height and spread of 1-1.2m, which makes it ideal for a large pot as well as a border.
Light:
Choose a location that gets partial sun to partial shade. The best location is a place that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. However, these plants can tolerate full sunlight conditions as well.
Soil:
Loropetalum prefer well drained soil, but can handle clay soil as well.
Water:
You will need to water loropetalum once a week unless it rains. Loropetalum growing in pots may need to be watered more frequently as the planters will dry out faster than the ground will.
Fertilizer:
It is a good idea to fertilize loropetalums every two months during the growing season (not in fall or winter) with a balanced fertilizer formulated for acid loving plants at ground level.
Propagate loropetalum:
- Select healthy, preferably fairly young shoots growing near the ground and peg down so part of the stem is in the ground
- Make a small wound on the underside, at the point of contact, to help stimulate rooting
- After a year or so, when roots have formed, cut off the rooted shoot from the parent plant, and plant in a pot to establish
