THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701240088
SECTION: HOME & GARDEN PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Gardening
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: 111 lines
WHEN THE SHRUB Loropetalum was introduced five years ago, its purple foliage and bright purplish-pink blooms made a splash on the garden scene.
I bought one from Wayside Gardens for $15 but was disappointed in its small size. Directions were not specific, and I planted it in the shade. After two seasons, it died.
That year a local nursery asked if I would test one of its plants. It was much larger and very healthy. I planted it in full sun and watered little, if at all. It defoliated in winter and, after two years, died.
That made me wonder if Loropetalum was a good plant. Often new plants are not properly tested before they're sold to homeowners.
I asked some readers what luck they'd had with Loropetalum. Here are their responses:
Donna Haycox, 58th Street, Virginia Beach: I planted a Loropetalum in late summer of 1995 in a fairly protected southwest corner. In the spring of 1996, it produced ``pom-pom'' flowers, but the foliage was inactive. Over the summer, it produced beautiful purple foliage. Established leaves are green, but the oldest leaves are bright red. I hope to prune it into a small tree shape after it gets taller.
Karen Law, Keelingwood Court, Virginia Beach: I planted three Loropetalums, ``Razzleberrie,'' in the summer of 1995. They were planted in a lightly shaded area, which receives a good bit of afternoon sun. During the winter ice storm that year, a large limb fell on one, snapping it off at the base. To my surprise, it came back in the spring and is now only slightly smaller than the others. When purchased, the tag read: ``Hot pink flowers, combined with purple spring foliage.'' I didn't note any blooms in spring, but the plants bloomed sparsely in August. They are still small - 18 to 24 inches - but look great planted with dwarf ``Firepower'' nandinas.
Barron Dempsey, Smithfield: I purchased four Loropetalum in the fall of 1995 from McDonald Garden Center in Hampton at $16.99 each. During the winter, the foliage on all four died, except for the bottom branches, which were protected by mulch. They have now all recovered to almost their original size, 12-by-12 inches. There have been essentially no blooms to date. I expected better.
Alene B. Tew, W. Meadow Drive, Chesapeake: I purchased a Loropetalum in the fall of 1995. It didn't make it through the winter. When I went back to McDonald Garden Center, I had to wait a while for a replacement because theirs had also died. I replanted in April of 1996. It is doing well now and measures 30 inches wide and 18 inches tall. It bloomed off and on all summer. Leaves are very dark and a bold color. In the center of the plant, where the sun does not reach the leaves, they are more green. In the fall they turned an orangy-red. I consider it to be a good plant, and I'm glad to have it.
Marian Beahan, Templar Boulevard, Norfolk: I purchased a Loropetalum at McDonald Garden Center in May 1995, named ``Razzleberrie.'' To my surprise, it survived the severe winter of 1995-96. It has more than doubled in size. My house faces south, so it is in the sun most of the day. Because it survived last summer's heat and winter's ice and appears to be healthy, I would say it's hardy.
Brian O'Neil, owner of Southern Meadows Landscapes Inc., Virginia Beach: You asked for reader experience in growing Loropetalum or Chinese Evergreen Witchhazel (a name it used to be called). I've had one of the green forms for 10 years. They are large shrubs, getting 10 feet tall and as wide at maturity. In a 3-gallon pot, they appear to be a low, spreading plant. One to two years after planting, they will send up slightly ascending branches that eventually will grow to the aforementioned height. A gardener should allow plenty of room for it to grow.
Culturally, it's a tough plant, preferring sun to part shade and normal garden soil. It is drought tolerant and unbothered by our cold winters. Grow it for its large size, gracefully arching evergreen foliage and white spidery flowers in the spring. Newer cultivars such as ``Razzleberrie'' sport purplish foliage and pink flowers.
Bill Kidd, shrub buyer for McDonald Garden Centers: I live near Hidenwood in Newport News and have grown several varieties of Loropetalum for the last few years. From my experience, they are all hardy in Hampton Roads, although some may defoliate in winter. ``Burgundy,'' which was one of the first introductions, never seemed to grow as well or have as good leaf color. It defoliated in the winter of 1995-96, but by April, it had produced a new set of leaves.
The other varieties suffered little or no leaf or stem damage. These varieties included ``Razzleberrie,'' (also known as ``Blush''); ``Sizzling Pink,'' a common green-leaved, white-flowering variety; and ``Plum Delight.'' Among these, ``Plum Delight'' has remained a superior plant in growth and leaf color, even in summer. In my opinion, it is the best of the purple-leaved varieties.
I suspect, but have no proof, that one of the problems with this plant is that many gardeners planted new plants in the fall when they were still actively growing. They may not have had a chance to harden off before winter weather.
Although ``Burgundy'' lost its leaves, it put out new ones, which may prove it is hardier than we thought. It seems content in normal garden soil and appears to be drought tolerant.
My plants are in full sun, in an open bed with no protection or mulch. I have nothing but good things to say about this exciting new plant for Hampton Roads.
These letters indicate most gardeners have had better luck than I had in growing Loropetalum. In my opinion, the jury is still out. The Japanese Garden at the Norfolk Botanical Garden includes a half dozen or more that are beautiful.
My apologies to several of these readers, whose questions about other plants were ignored, because I thought their letters were only about Lorapetalum. Those questions will now be answered promptly. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos from McDonald Garden Center