| I recently purchased a dark red container grown shrub with tag name Lorapetalum chinense 'Ruby', and would like to know its habits and nurture. |
| Loropetalum (Loropetalum chynensee) is related to Witch-hazel and Sweet-gum. It is a compact shrub (6-15' at maturity) with outward pointing branches and alternate, simple, rough, evergreen, ovate leaves up to 2" long. The yellowish flowers appear in clusters in early spring. Loropetalum does best in high shifting shade or north side locations. Requires reasonably fertile, acid soil with plenty of organic matter. Well-drained soil is a requirement for success. If yours will be planted outside in such a soil, it needs no fertilizer, but will appreciate a mulch of compost, aged manure and peat moss once or twice per year. If you plan to keep it in a container, enrich the soil with the same, plus a handful of bone meal. Feed container grown plants with a gentle, slow release fertilizer twice during the growing season. |
