Purple Diamond loropetalum

Sun

Full sun to partial shade. Sun gives the strongest purple colour; afternoon shade helps in very hot climates.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Keep the root zone moist but never waterlogged.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained, acidic soil, ideally pH 5.0-6.5. Chalky or alkaline soil often causes yellowing.

Height

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m)

Spread

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m)

Flowers

Bright pink, narrow-petalled flowers in spring, sometimes followed by scattered flowers in summer or autumn.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, oval, burgundy-purple leaves on densely branching stems. Colour is strongest with good light and may become greener in shade.

Growth

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

   2.3 ft (0.7 m)

3. After 2 years

   3 ft (0.9 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

5. After 5 years

   5 ft (1.5 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 top of the root ball level with, or slightly above, the surrounding soil.
• 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.
• If growth is weak, feed lightly in spring with a fertiliser for acid-loving shrubs; avoid heavy feeding.
• In colder gardens, choose a sheltered site and protect young plants during severe freezes.

Pruning. Prune just after the main spring flowering, shortening stray shoots and removing dead or damaged wood. Avoid repeated shearing or late-season pruning, which spoils the natural shape and can reduce the next spring's flowers.

Early spring

Check for winter damage and remove clearly dead or broken stems once severe frost has passed.

Spring

Refresh mulch and feed lightly if growth or leaf colour suggests a need.

Late spring

After the main flowers fade, lightly shape the shrub if necessary.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry weather, especially newly planted shrubs and those in containers.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil is warm; avoid feeding that encourages soft new growth.

Winter

Protect exposed young plants during severe cold and keep container drainage holes clear.

• Plant as a loose evergreen hedge for a burgundy backdrop to green foliage.
• Use beneath windows where its mature size leaves enough clearance without constant clipping.
• Combine with white flowers and silver or lime-green foliage for clear contrast.
• Grow in a large, well-drained container with acidic potting mix on a sheltered patio.
• Place along a woodland edge where it receives several hours of sun.

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

Plant it with: Azaleas, Camellias, Japanese forest grass, Lilyturf, Hostas and Japanese pieris.

Wildlife: Flowers provide some food for visiting insects, and dense foliage offers shelter for small birds. It is not a native habitat plant in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada or Australia.

• Yellow leaves with greener veins usually indicate iron deficiency in alkaline soil: test the soil, use an appropriate chelated iron treatment, and consider a raised bed or container with acidic soil.
• Root rot causes decline in persistently wet ground: improve drainage and avoid planting too deeply or watering already wet soil.
• Scale insects can weaken stems and leave sticky honeydew: inspect shoots and treat active infestations with a suitable horticultural oil according to the label.
• Cold or drying winds can scorch leaves and kill shoot tips: provide shelter, protect young plants during hard freezes, and prune dead growth after frost risk has passed.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No poisonous part is established, but species-specific evidence is limited, especially for horses; it is not an edible plant.

• Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense)

  Typical green-leaved forms have white flowers and can become much larger; Purple Diamond has purple foliage and pink flowers.

• Purple Pixie loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense 'Shang-lo')

  It has similar purple foliage and pink flowers but forms a much lower, spreading shrub with cascading branches.

• Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus)

  This is a deciduous tree with green leaves and clusters of white, fringed flowers, rather than a purple-leaved evergreen shrub.

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

Propagation. Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer using a free-draining medium and humid conditions. Seedlings will not reliably retain the cultivar's purple foliage and compact habit; check applicable plant breeders' rights before propagating.

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.