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Choose Chinese Fringe Flower for pizzazz
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - March 8, 2004

Fifteen years ago, Chinese Fringe Flower was a little known plant to most Southern gardeners even though this hardy evergreen shrub had been introduced to the U.S. from China back in 1880. Back then, when one spoke of Chinese Fringe Flower or more commonly, Loropetalum, they were referring to an evergreen shrub used only occasionally in residential landscapes and relatively difficult to find in garden centers. That all changed in the early 1990's with the introduction of purple-leaved and pink flowering forms of Loropetalum that have virtually taken the landscape industry by storm.

People are still discovering Loropetalum. At the recent Garden and Patio Show in Biloxi, many wanted to know the name of this attractive shrub. Today, gardeners and commercial landscape contractors are enthusiastically including Loropetalum in both residential and commercial landscape settings.

Loropetalum varieties in the market place today are very similar, and yet, there are distinct differences. There are unique shades of flower color, ranging from fuchsia-pink to pink, or white with pink. Some have consistently reddish-purple leaves and others are green to purple depending on environmental conditions and time of year. All have a rapid rate of growth and yet may be pruned to just about whatever size desired. They can be shaped as 3 to 4 foot multi-stemmed shrubs or guided to tree forms that may ultimately reach 10 to 15 feet. It should be noted that one variety, 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia' (pronounced zoo-zow), is an upright form that if not cut back produces long, artistic, arching branches.

A multitude of small, attractive blooms occur on Loropetalum in early to mid-March. The flower form itself is unique and easy to see where it got the name Fringe Flower. The fringed flowers appear in clusters of 3 to 6 that create quite a show when the whole bush is in bloom. Flowers may persist for 2 to 3 weeks.

Varieties to look for have names like 'Burgundy, 'Ruby', 'Blush' and 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia'. 'Burgundy' is the recipient of the Mississippi Medallion Award and features hot pink flowers and reddish purple new foliage. 'Ruby' may be the smallest of the available types, having a more rounded, compact form. 'Blush' is a dense, full-leaved form with bronze-red new leaves that age to dark green. Flowers are fuchsia-pink. A very similar variety to 'Blush' is 'Razzleberri'. 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia' has dark maroon leaves with a positively upright growth habit and is likely the most rapid growing. Flowers are deep pink. All of these varieties have very good cold tolerance and virtually no pest problems.

Looking for something new to add some pizzazz to the landscape? Don't overlook the possibilities offered by Chinese Fringe Flower. Happy gardening!

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.