Light
Grow Chinese fringe flower in a bright, sunny location that receives partial shade throughout the day. Ideally, these shrubs should be protected from intense midday rays but receive dappled morning sun. They can also tolerate growing in sunny to part-shady conditions.
Soil
Chinese fringe flower requires well-draining, loamy, acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. A pH between 4.5 to 6.5 is best. To help retain moisture and suppress weeds, mulch around the root ball of a Chinese fringe flower shrub with 2 to 3 inches of compost, straw, or aged wood chips.
Water
Young plants should be kept deeply watered when it is hot outside. Plan on giving shrubs about 2 inches of water once or twice a week. Once established, Chinese fringe flowers are relatively drought tolerant. However, they grow best when the soil is kept consistently moist.
Temperature and Humidity
Chinese fringe flowers grow best in USDA zones 7 to 10, tolerating winter temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-17.8 degrees Celsius). However, in regions that experience chilly winters, it is recommended that Chinese fringe flowers are planted in areas that protect them from cold winter winds.
Fertilizer
Mix compost into the soil at planting time. Not only will the compost act as a slow-release fertilizer, but it will also improve drainage. This is important for a loropetalum shrub, which is susceptible to root rot. For the same reason, when you plant the bush, be sure not to sink the top of the root ball below the soil surface. If they are planted in the right soil, Chinese fringe flowers require little to no supplemental fertilizer once they are established. If desired, established plants can benefit from annual fertilizing in early spring with a slow-release, all-purpose fertilizer, or one that is specially formulated for shrubs. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions. However, Chinese fringe flowers that are planted in nutrient-poor soil will require additional feeding. Amend the soil regularly with organic matter such as compost, grass and leaf clippings, and manure (composted).
Types of Loropetalum
The typical loropetalum has green foliage and white or off-white flowers. Other varieties have bright red or pink flowers and purple foliage that make this bush popular in landscaping. Here are a few favorite varieties with colorful blooms:
‘Pizazz’ grows 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, and features lovely plum-colored flowers with dark purple leaves.‘Burgundy’ grows up to 10 feet and offers pink blooms with reddish-purple leaves that become greenish-purple in the summer, then bright red in autumn.‘Ruby’ averages 4 feet in height and width with hot pink flowers and ruby-red foliage, plus it’s a true dwarf, ideal for a nicely compact, rounded shrub.‘Ever Red’ grows about 5 feet high and wide with flowers that bloom a true red with burgundy leaves.‘Razzleberri’ reaches an average of 4 to 6 feet tall and wide with raspberry-red flowers and leaves that bear a hint of burgundy.‘Shang-Red’, also known by brand names Red Diamond or Purple Diamond (‘Shang-hi’) because they are nearly identical, grows up to 6 feet tall. Both have rich burgundy foliage with deep red or purple-pink flowers.
Pruning
These low-maintenance shrubs are extremely tolerant of the type of heavy pruning required for hedging, foundation plantings, and topiaries. However, Chinese fringe flower does not require this type of pruning, and grows into a naturally graceful shape that many appreciate. The flowers of this shrub bloom on old wood, so when pruning Chinese fringe flower, it is best to wait until after the blooming period in the summer to early fall.
Propagating Loropetalum
Chinese fringe flower can be propagated by softwood cuttings (fresh, new growth). Take these simple steps:
Overwintering
Loropetalum is popular in the Southeastern United States, and it may survive in a colder climate but most likely will not be evergreen there. If your winters are frosty, increase the shrub’s chances of survival by applying garden mulch to protect its root system and grow it where it will enjoy a warmer microclimate, such as a sheltered nook near a building.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Chinese fringe flowers are not especially susceptible to many pests or diseases, however, they can fall victim to common problems such as spider mites, aphids and root rot. The shrub may also be prone to diseases such as anthracnose and powdery mildew. A bacterial gall disease (caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi) could be found on leaves and stems of loropetalum shrubs growing in the southern parts of the United States.
Common Problems With Loropetalum
Loropetalum is an easy-care, fuss-free plant. However, you may encounter a couple of problems that indicate the plant is under stress.
Yellowing Leaves
The yellowing of leaves (called chlorosis) may mean the soil in which the loropetalum is growing is too alkaline, reaching over 7.0 pH. A problem with mites may also cause the leaves to yellow.
Leaves Won’t Turn Purple
You may have a type of loropetalum that normally has green foliage for at least part of the year. But if you have the type that should have persistent purple leaves, it may be that your plant is either in too much shade, too much sun, or once again, the soil is too alkaline. If you think the plant is growing in the right lighting and soil conditions, try fertilizing it and see if the leaves turn purple over time.
