Red Diamond Loropetalum

Red Diamond™ Midsize Loropetalum has deep red fringe flowers, providing a richer spring display than most purple-leaf shrubs. This compact evergreen, Loropetalum chinense 'Shang-Red', pairs dark burgundy foliage with narrow, ribbon-like blooms from late winter into early spring. The foliage keeps its wine-toned color through the year, so the shrub carries interest after flowering slows. We often use it where a hedge or foundation planting needs color before the rest of the garden has fully woken up. Red Diamond™ stays midsize for a loropetalum, maturing near 6 feet tall and wide without the rangy habit older selections can develop. It grows as a rounded, multi-stemmed broadleaf evergreen with fine-textured foliage that contrasts well with larger-leaf shrubs. The heaviest flower set comes in spring, with lighter rebloom possible in summer and fall on well-sited plants. Once established, it offers good drought tolerance and deer resistance, making it useful as an accent, loose screen, colorful foundation shrub, or mass planting. Red Diamond Loropetalum Care Plant Red Diamond™ Midsize Loropetalum in full sun to part shade, with afternoon shade helpful in hotter climates. Give it rich, humusy, well-drained soil with an acidic pH, roughly 5.0 to 6.5, since alkaline soil can cause yellowing foliage. In heavy clay, raise the planting area or blend in pine fines and compost so water moves away from the crown. Water deeply after planting, then keep the root zone evenly moist during the first growing season and avoid lightly sprinkling the surface. Established plants can handle short dry spells, but curled leaf edges or dull, limp foliage mean it is time for a slow soak. Feed once in late spring with an acid-forming shrub fertilizer if growth is pale or thin, and keep mulch 1 to 2 inches deep around the root zone. This evergreen may shed some older leaves during stress or cold snaps, which is usually different from branch dieback. Prune just after the main spring bloom so the next flower cycle is not reduced by late trimming. Use selective thinning for stray stems instead of shearing every surface, because repeated shearing can make the interior woody. In colder zone 7 sites, choose a protected location and add winter mulch before hard freezes. Red Diamond Loropetalum Spacing Space Red Diamond™ Midsize Loropetalum 5 to 6 feet apart for a full hedge, or 6 to 7 feet apart when each shrub should keep a rounded outline. For a specimen, leave several feet from walks, siding, and other shrubs so the mature width is not clipped flat. Use a 20- to 24-inch wide container for a young plant, then move up as roots fill the pot; container-grown loropetalum needs sharper drainage and more frequent watering during heat. In acidic beds, pair Red Diamond™ Midsize Loropetalum with camellias and gardenias, which share its preference for well-drained, acidic soil and make the burgundy foliage appear deeper by contrast. Japanese forest grass works nicely near the front of the planting where partial shade softens afternoon heat. In large containers, use pansies or ferns around the rim for seasonal color and texture without crowding the shrubs root zone.