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Loropetalum chinense

Previously known as:

  • Hamamelis chinensis
Phonetic Spelling
lo-ro-PET-a-lum chi-nen-SE
Description

The Chinese fringe flower is a broad-leaved evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub or small tree of the Hamamelidaceae or witch hazel family. The shrub has a rounded to vase-shaped, multi-stemmed habit with arching branches, and its height is variable. It typically grows from 6 to 8 feet tall and equally as wide, but it may also reach a height up to 20 feet tall or more. The leaves are dark green, alternate, elliptical, and have asymmetrical bases. The undersides of the leaf are a paler green and pubescent. The flowers bloom from late March to April, and they appear in clusters of lightly scented white spidery flowers and generally bloom for 2 to 3 weeks. There are many cultivars available. The pink flowering forms include 'Blush,' 'Burgundy,' 'Carolina Midnight, 'Ever Red,'  Pizazz,' 'Plum Delight,' 'Plum Diamond,' 'Purple Pixie,' and 'Ruby.' The white flowering forms include 'Carolina Moonlight' and 'Snow Muffin.'

This plant is a native of China, Southeast Asia, and Japan, and may be found in woodlands and thickets. This species was introduced to the United States in the 1880s. The purple-leafed and pink flowering types were first available in the 1980s.

The genus name, Loropetalum, originates from two Greek words. Loron means strap, and petalon means  " leaf or petal" which refers to the form of the flower petals. The specific epithet, chinense, refers to China which is its native origin.

The Chinese fringe flower prefers full sun with some afternoon partial shade for the best flowering and leaf color. They grow best in rich, moist, well-drained, acidic soils. In cooler climates, such as 6b to 7b, it is best to plant them in a protected area, away from winter winds. Mulching the root area will protect the plant in the winter as well as help them retain moisture during the summer months. It is intolerant to alkaline soils and may develop chlorosis. The shrub can be easily transplanted, and pruning may be needed to maintain its size and shape. Once established, the shrub is drought-tolerant. In cooler climates, it is best to plant this shrub in the spring so that it will be more established by the time the winter season approaches.

These shrubs are very attractive and versatile in the landscape. They can be used for borders, screens, and foundations. It can be planted as a specimen, in mass, in small groups, and as an espalier. If pruned, they can form a beautiful small tree. The pink flowering varieties are show stoppers; whereas, the white species tend to be a little less eye-catching.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom:  Spring          Foliage: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter     Fruit: Summer

Quick ID Hints:

  •  evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub with leaves in a single plane
  • rough, sandpapery, simple, alternate, ovate or elliptical leaf dark green leaves on the upper surface and paler underside
  • new growth stems and leaves are pubescent
  • 4-petaled, wavy, strap-like white flowers on species

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease issues. Root rot can occur in poorly drained soils. If the soil is neutral to alkaline, chlorosis may occur. Monitor for mites and aphids. Recently, a bacterial gall disease has been found on plants in South Carolina that can cause branch dieback and eventual plant death. They may also be susceptible to powdery mildew and anthracnose.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Courtyard Entrance Garden Backyard Patio
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blush'
    compact, dense, bronze red to olive green foliage, fushsia pink flowers
  • 'Burgundy'
    reddish-purple to olive green leaves, hot pink flowers
  • 'Carolina Midnight'
    large shrub, deep purple foliage, deep fuchsia pink flowers
  • 'Carolina Moonlight'
    compact, white flowers, blooms late winter and early spring
  • 'Crimson Fire'
  • 'Ever Red'
    compact habit, burgundy leaves, vivid red flowers,
  • 'Hillier Form'
  • 'Pizazz'
    dark purple leaves and plum-colored flowers
  • 'Plum Delight'
    foliage rose-purple to bronze, dark pink flowers
  • 'Purple Diamond'
    deep purple leave and bright pink flowers
  • 'Purple Pixie'
    Dwarf with purple leaves and pink flowers
  • 'Purple Pixie Sunfade'
  • 'Roseum'
    Pink flowers and maroon red leaves that emerge pinkish-purple
  • 'Rubrum' Form
    Pink to red blooms
    'Ruby'
    ruby-red foliage and hot pink flowers
  • Shidare
  • 'Snow Dance'
  • 'Snow Muffin'
    dense rounded mound, leaves light green to dark olive green, white flower,
  • 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia'
'Blush', 'Burgundy', 'Carolina Midnight', 'Carolina Moonlight', 'Crimson Fire', 'Ever Red', 'Hillier Form', 'Pizazz', 'Plum Delight', 'Purple Diamond', 'Purple Pixie', 'Purple Pixie Sunfade', 'Roseum', 'Rubrum', 'Ruby', Shidare, 'Snow Dance', 'Snow Muffin', 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia'
Tags:
#evergreen#small tree#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#interesting bark#white flowers#shrub#semi-evergreen#broadleaf evergreen#low maintenance#spring flowers#espalier#mass planting#moist soil#well-drained soil#multistemmed#transplant#rich soils#deer resistant#foundation planting#rounded#border planting#spring interest#acidic soils tolerant#screening#fantz#vase-shaped#partial shade tolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blush'
    compact, dense, bronze red to olive green foliage, fushsia pink flowers
  • 'Burgundy'
    reddish-purple to olive green leaves, hot pink flowers
  • 'Carolina Midnight'
    large shrub, deep purple foliage, deep fuchsia pink flowers
  • 'Carolina Moonlight'
    compact, white flowers, blooms late winter and early spring
  • 'Crimson Fire'
  • 'Ever Red'
    compact habit, burgundy leaves, vivid red flowers,
  • 'Hillier Form'
  • 'Pizazz'
    dark purple leaves and plum-colored flowers
  • 'Plum Delight'
    foliage rose-purple to bronze, dark pink flowers
  • 'Purple Diamond'
    deep purple leave and bright pink flowers
  • 'Purple Pixie'
    Dwarf with purple leaves and pink flowers
  • 'Purple Pixie Sunfade'
  • 'Roseum'
    Pink flowers and maroon red leaves that emerge pinkish-purple
  • 'Rubrum' Form
    Pink to red blooms
    'Ruby'
    ruby-red foliage and hot pink flowers
  • Shidare
  • 'Snow Dance'
  • 'Snow Muffin'
    dense rounded mound, leaves light green to dark olive green, white flower,
  • 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia'
'Blush', 'Burgundy', 'Carolina Midnight', 'Carolina Moonlight', 'Crimson Fire', 'Ever Red', 'Hillier Form', 'Pizazz', 'Plum Delight', 'Purple Diamond', 'Purple Pixie', 'Purple Pixie Sunfade', 'Roseum', 'Rubrum', 'Ruby', Shidare, 'Snow Dance', 'Snow Muffin', 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia'
Tags:
#evergreen#small tree#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#interesting bark#white flowers#shrub#semi-evergreen#broadleaf evergreen#low maintenance#spring flowers#espalier#mass planting#moist soil#well-drained soil#multistemmed#transplant#rich soils#deer resistant#foundation planting#rounded#border planting#spring interest#acidic soils tolerant#screening#fantz#vase-shaped#partial shade tolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Loropetalum
    Species:
    chinense
    Family:
    Hamamelidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China to NE. Thailand, Japan (Honshu, Kyushu) and Taiwan
    Distribution:
    Native: Assam, China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. Introduced: United States
    Wildlife Value:
    Deer resistant
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Screening
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Dense
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Vase
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Ovoid, nut-like, woody capsule with brown hairs. These capsules are 2-valved, uncommon, and less than an inch long. The seeds are ovoid, globose, or ellipsoid and are 4 to 7 mm long and 3.5 to 4 mm wide.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are lightly fragrant and white. The calyx is 4-lobed. Flowers have 4 petals, are undulate-ligulate, and are less than an inch in size each. Petals of flowers yield a feathery or spidery appearance and have 4 stamens. Petals are strap-shaped, and downward drooping. The inflorescence is a cluster (head) with 3-6 flowers crowded together at the tips of the shoots and the leaf axils.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to elliptical, acute, rotund, entire to finely toothed, dark green in color, and are borne in a single plane with an asymmetrical base. They are finely pubescent above and gray-green, bristly pubescent underneath. They can grow up to 1.5" long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are slender, brown, and densely pubescent. Stem pith is solid, small, and green.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Flowering Tree
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought