Evergreen Shrubs (Flowering) – Chinese Ruby Loropetalum

•  ‘Ruby’ loropetalum

Botanical name: Loropetalum chinense ‘Ruby’

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity: 4 – 5 ft in height and width 

Bloom time: spring 

Hardy zone: zones 7-10

Flower color: pink

Foliage color:  green/pink

Growth rate: 1 – 2 ft a year

Pruning instructions: prune as soon as the plant is done flowering. Do not remove more that ¼ of the size of the plant at once

Propagation methods: cut a stem just below a node and place in water until roots start to emerge

Landscape use: Accent, Container, Hedge, Mass Planting, Slope

Light needs: at least 4 hours of sun a day

Special features: Deep, rich purple foliage all season

Watering instructions: water every other day for the first 3 – 4 months and then reduce watering to about once every week or 2 depending on the amount of rainfall throughout the week

Fertilizing instructions : apply a slow release fertilizer in the early spring

Best time to plant: spring or fall

Best type of soil: loamy 

Companion plants: junipers, spirea, abelia, viburnum

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans and plants 

Invasive species: no