Crimson Fire loropetalum

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; foliage colours best with good light. Afternoon shade helps in very hot climates.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing; once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells. Avoid constantly wet roots.

Soil

Moist but well-drained, acidic soil enriched with organic matter; alkaline soil can cause yellow leaves.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Bright pink, narrow-petalled flowers in spring, sometimes followed by scattered flowers later in the year.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, oval leaves emerge reddish purple and mature to deep burgundy; colour may become greener in shade.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.8 ft (0.54 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.9 ft (0.58 m)

4. After 3 years

   2 ft (0.62 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.3 ft (0.69 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply through the first growing season whenever the upper soil begins to dry.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring with a fertiliser for acid-loving shrubs if growth is weak; avoid heavy feeding.
• Choose a sheltered position away from cold, drying winds, especially near the colder end of its range.
• For containers, use ericaceous potting compost and a pot with unobstructed drainage holes.

Pruning. Prune lightly just after the main spring flowering, shortening stray shoots rather than shearing the whole shrub. Remove dead or frost-damaged wood once new growth shows which stems are alive.

Spring

Plant once the soil is workable and severe frost has passed; water thoroughly and mulch.

Spring

Check growth and leaf colour; feed lightly if needed.

Late spring

After flowering, trim stray shoots and remove any confirmed winter damage.

Summer

Water during extended dry weather, checking container plants more frequently.

Autumn

Refresh mulch if needed and avoid pruning that would encourage tender new growth.

Winter

Protect container roots and shield young plants from severe frost and drying winds.

• Plant in small groups along the front of a shrub border for a low band of burgundy foliage.
• Use as a loose, low hedge beside a path, allowing enough room for its natural spread.
• Combine with green-leaved camellias or azaleas for foliage contrast in acidic soil.
• Grow in a large container near a sheltered entrance or patio.
• Pair with pale flowers and fine-textured grasses to soften its dense, dark foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Modern, Southern, Modern courtyard, Traditional, Low-maintenance and Small-space.

Plant it with: Azalea, Camellia, Japanese forest grass, Lilyturf, Pieris and Gardenia.

Wildlife: Flowers can attract visiting insects, including bees, and the dense evergreen growth provides cover for small birds.

• Yellow leaves with greener veins often indicate alkaline soil: test the soil, avoid lime and use a container with ericaceous compost where the ground is unsuitable.
• Root rot can develop in waterlogged soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and avoid planting in low, wet spots.
• Frost and cold winds can scorch leaves or kill shoot tips: provide shelter and wait until spring growth before cutting back damaged wood.
• Scale insects may cause sticky leaves and sooty mould: inspect stems and leaf undersides, remove small infestations by hand and use an approved horticultural oil if necessary.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No particular plant part is recognised as poisonous, but cultivar-specific safety information is limited and it should not be treated as edible.

• Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus)

  A deciduous large shrub or tree with green leaves and white fringe-like flowers, rather than a compact evergreen shrub with burgundy leaves and pink flowers.

• Witch hazel (Hamamelis species)

  Has similar narrow, ribbon-like petals, but loses its larger leaves in autumn and usually flowers on bare stems.

Loropetalum comes from Greek words meaning strap and petal, referring to the narrow flowers, while chinense means Chinese.

Propagation. Commercially propagated by semi-ripe cuttings to preserve its characteristics; seed will not reliably produce the same plant. This is a patented cultivar in the United States, so check current plant-breeder rights and obtain permission before propagating where protection applies.

Accepted botanical name

Loropetalum chinense

Native range

Assam, China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand.

Measured

Average height 820 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.