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UT
Gardens' Plant of the Month:
Chinese Fringe Flower
Submitted by Beth Willis
Chinese fringe flower, or Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, is a wonderful
ornamental shrub that will liven up your fall landscape with its dark
burgundy foliage and bright pink blooms.
Evergreen in warm climates, blossoms start appearing as early as March.
The Chinese fringe flower blooms heavily through the spring and early
summer, continuing sporadically throughout the summer and fall.
The Chinese fringe flower, a native of Asia, is a close relative of witch
hazel and fothergilla. A green form with white blooms was introduced to
the United States in the late 1800s, but it is the recent introduction of
the pink-flowered varieties that has ignited such interest in this shrub.
Size, form, foliage and bloom color of the Chinese fringe flower can vary
widely, depending on the cultivar selected. This versatile plant is best
propagated by stem cuttings, which should root fairly easily.
Once established, these flowering shrubs grow quickly to a maximum height
of 8 to 10 feet and spread 10 to 12 feet. Most varieties can be pruned,
and some are suitable to shape in a small tree form or train as a standard
or espalier. Several true dwarf varieties are available. These grow no
taller than 2 to 3 feet.
New foliage is typically bronze, pink, or burgundy, which may change to
green or burgundy as the leaves age. Tightly clustered, long, narrow
flowers resemble pom-poms at the ends of branches. Blossoms can be white,
yellow, pink, or red.
This colorful shrub does well in full sun to part shade. Although full sun
encourages better blooms and deeper foliage color, the Chinese fringe
flower benefits from afternoon shade in very hot climates. Soil should be
moist, but well drained. The foliage can start to wilt if the soil becomes
too dry, but should bounce back after a deep watering.
The Chinese fringe flower has no problems with pests or diseases. Much like
an azalea, the blossoming bush prefers an acidic soil. It should be
fertilized periodically with a formula for azaleas and rhododendrons.
Hardy to zone 6 or 7, this shrub may need extra protection from wind and
cold in the north. It also may lose some foliage in colder climates.
Some notable selections of the Chinese fringe flower are:
'Blush' – one of the first pink-flowered varieties introduced. Foliage
is green to burgundy.
'Burgundy' – dark burgundy to maroon foliage with hot pink flowers. Has
received the Mississippi Medallion award.
'Daybreak's Flame' – pairs bronze-green foliage with bright pink blooms
on an upright form.
'Pipa's Red' – boasts burgundy foliage with a purplish-pink bloom on an
upright form.
'Plum Delight' – also known as 'Hines Purpleleaf', with burgundy foliage
and pink flowers. May be more cold hardy than other varieties.
'Snow Muffin' – a dwarf variety with white flowers and green foliage.
'Zhuzhou Fuchsia' –an upright form with long, arching branches.
Beth Willis is a graduate student in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences. She works under the guidance of Dr. Susan Hamilton, director of the UT Gardens. The UT Gardens are a project of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station. The original gardens are located in Knoxville on Neyland Drive. Additional gardens are located in Jackson on Airways Blvd. Admission is free, and the Gardens are open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.
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Contact:
Terri Friedman or Patricia McDaniels at UTIA Marketing and Communications,
(865) 974-7141
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