Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum Plum Gorgeous - Chinese Witch Hazel

Loropetalum chinense Plum Gorgeous 'Pgaplugor' is a variety of Chinese Fringe Flower that cannot leave anyone uninterested: its vegetation forms a dense and wide mass of dark purple leaves that come alive with glorious and brilliant raspberry red flowers. Its evergreen foliage, as well as its habit, make this shrub a pillar of the garden, but also of the patio. Its appearance allows for multiple uses: it provides large areas of groundcover at the base of trees and shrubs, enhances a large rockery or a low shrub bed. Its only weakness is its relative hardiness: outside of milder regions, it must be cultivated in pots and stored away from harsh frosts in winter.

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, or Chinese Fringe Flower with purple leaves, is a shrub of the Hamamelidaceae family, with its 4 long ribbon-like petals that resemble those of Hamamelis. It is native to the forests and copses of the Himalayas, China, and the northern and eastern regions of India, where it grows up to 1200m (3937 ft) altitude. It is a plant that prefers rather acidic and well-drained soil, and is more tolerant than it seems.  It adapts to fairly dry soils in summer, to heat, and tolerates a little limestone.

Loropetalum Plum Gorgeous is a cultivar recently selected in Australia by Growers Australia. This cultivar has a dome-shaped, dense, bushy and spreading habit. It develops foliage that persists during not too harsh climates. The oval-shaped leaves, 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 in) long, are red when they emerge, then they take on a dark purple-violet hue that they will retain throughout the season. Flowers are particularly abundant, with a fragrance of honey, and nectar-bearing from March to early May, earlier or later depending on the climate.  These last about 3 weeks. Depending on the climate, it can flower again in late summer. The flowers are grouped in the axil of the leaves, along the branches. They are composed of 4 slightly twisted ribbon-like petals, pink-red in colour, and are slightly fragrant. The almost flashy tone of the flowers creates a dazzling combination with the colour of the foliage.

Loropetalums are very trendy: unique, well-suited for potted cultivation and compact, they appeal to urban gardeners as well as lovers of English gardens. They stand out in spring scenes, beautifully coloured when the garden is still very sparse with flowers. Early in the season, their honey-scented flowers are also a good source of nectar for bees. You can grow them in pots in cold regions, in a limestone-free but fertile potting soil, and stored in winter. They can be used in an  informal hedge, or within a mixed border of heathland shrubs with staggered flowering: camellias, hamamelis, azaleas and rhododendrons, andromedas and hydrangeas, for example. It can also be grown as a bonsai. This Plum Gorgeous is quite water-efficient once well established. In neutral soil and mild climates, it proves to be water-efficient once well established. It is a magnificent selection for ornamental small spaces, slopes, rockeries, and patios. For example, you can associate it with creeping leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), Berberis Atropurpurea Nana, forget-me-nots, shrubby wormwoods, or santolines.