Ever Red loropetalum

Sun

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

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist while establishing. Once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells; avoid constantly wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained, humus-rich, acidic to neutral soil, preferably pH 5.0-6.5. Chalky or strongly alkaline soil often causes yellowing.

Height

5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m), sometimes larger in favourable conditions

Spread

5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m)

Flowers

Deep red, narrow-petalled flowers in late winter and spring, with occasional lighter flowering later in the year.

Foliage

Small, oval leaves with deep burgundy to purple colouring; shaded or older leaves can become greener. Usually evergreen, but severe cold can cause leaf loss.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• 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

   2.4 ft (0.73 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (0.96 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

5. After 5 years

   5 ft (1.7 m)

   full size

About 5 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

Moderate

• Plant with the root flare at soil level, leaving room for its mature width.
• Water deeply during 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.
• In colder locations, choose a sheltered position away from exposed winter winds.

Pruning. Prune just after the main spring flowering, shortening selected branches to maintain a loose, natural shape. Remove dead or damaged wood as needed; avoid repeated shearing, which reduces flowering and creates a dense outer shell.

Spring

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

Spring

Refresh mulch and feed lightly if needed.

Late spring

After the main flowers fade, selectively prune branches that have outgrown their space.

Summer

Water during extended dry weather and check pale new leaves for signs of alkaline-soil chlorosis.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil is warm; avoid nitrogen-rich feeding and hard pruning.

Winter

Protect young plants during severe cold and check that the root zone drains freely.

• Use as a dark-leaved focal shrub beside a path or entrance, allowing space for its spreading branches.
• Plant an informal hedge or screen that retains its natural shape rather than clipping it tightly.
• Combine with green-leaved camellias and pale-flowered azaleas in an acidic-soil border.
• Set against light-coloured walls or pale grasses to make the burgundy foliage stand out.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, Modern courtyard, Traditional, Chinese scholar garden, Low-maintenance and Hot border.

Plant it with: Camellias, Azaleas, Japanese pieris, Gardenias, Liriope and Japanese forest grass.

Wildlife: Flowers offer some forage for visiting insects, and dense branching provides cover for small birds. It is not a native habitat substitute in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada or Australia.

• Yellow leaves with greener veins: alkaline soil can restrict iron uptake. Test the soil, use an appropriate chelated iron treatment if needed, and consider a raised bed or container with acidic growing medium.
• Wilting or root rot in wet ground: improve drainage and reduce watering; do not leave containers standing in water.
• Scale insects: inspect stems and leaf undersides, remove small infestations, and use a labelled horticultural oil when appropriate.
• Winter scorch or dieback: shelter from cold winds, maintain mulch, and wait until new growth starts before cutting back damaged wood.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No particular poisonous part is established, though species-specific safety information is limited; it is an ornamental plant, not food.

• Purple-leaved Chinese fringe flower cultivars (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum)

  Many have nearly identical foliage but brighter pink flowers or different mature sizes. Ever Red has deep red flowers; a reliable nursery label is the best way to confirm the cultivar.

• Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis)

  Also has ribbon-like petals, but its flowers are yellow on bare winter branches, and its larger green leaves fall in autumn.

• Purple-leaved Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

  Has sharp spines, small yellow flowers and often red berries, rather than red fringe-like flowers; it is deciduous.

Loropetalum comes from Greek words meaning strap and petal, referring to the narrow flower petals, while chinense means from China.

Propagation. Usually propagated from semi-ripe cuttings in summer; seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's characteristics. This cultivar has been sold under plant-patent protection, so check current local propagation restrictions before taking cuttings.

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.