Striking fushia flower petals against purple-black leaves. It does best planted in zone 8 or higher but can survive in a protected area in zone 7. It flowers best in full sun but needs some afternoon shade. It prefers well-drained, slightly sandy, acidic soils. It requires very little maintenance and pruning to maintain its attractive shape. If yu do prune, wait until after flowering is completed. 'Razzel Dazzle' cultivar is known for its bright pink flowers. Plant in a woodland garden or even a container, it looks great as a stand-alone specimen or planted in small groups. Use as a board, hedge or privacy screen. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Aphids and mites can sometimes cause issues. In clay soil with poor drainage root rot can occur. Alkaline soils cause chlorosis. More information on Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheCamellia Winter GroupCannaIlex 'Nellie R. Stevens'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Black; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2.5" long dark purple to almost black with asymmetrical bases, apex pointed.
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Blooms March-April with tassel like flowers with 4 narrow strap-like petals that have a light fragrance. Flowers are clustered together at the branch tips.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Uncommon in cutivation, 2 valvled capsule, 12 mm in diameter
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Brown stems pupescent
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Woodland
Landscape theme
Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Screen/Privacy; Small groups; Specimen