Purple Pixie Loropetalum

Purple Pixie Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense 'Purple Pixie') is a weeping burgundy groundcover that solves the awkward problem of colour at ankle height. It stays around 60cm tall but spreads to about 1.5m, so it covers ground sideways instead of building up, and the foliage holds its plum tone all year rather than greening off in summer. Ribbon like pink flowers appear over the top of it, heaviest in spring.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. The burgundy foliage is the feature and it is there twelve months a year. The pink flowers are a bonus rather than the whole show.
• It spreads, it does not climb. About 60cm high and 1.5m across means it covers a bed without ever growing up into a window or a path sightline.
• The weeping habit suits edges. Branches arch outward and down, so it drapes over a retaining wall or a pot rim instead of stopping in a hard line.
• Tough and undemanding. Drought tolerant and heat tolerant once established, with no deadheading, no staking and no annual cut back.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 1m apart for full groundcover. At that spacing the plants knit into a continuous burgundy sheet in two to three seasons while each one keeps its weeping shape.

Retaining walls and slopes. The arching habit is made for spilling over an edge, and once established the roots hold soil on a bank that would otherwise wash.

Borders, edging and pots. A low run along a path gives dark contrast against green foliage and pale paving. In containers, a wide shallow pot suits the habit better than a tall one.

Growing Purple Pixie Loropetalum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun is what keeps the foliage dark; in shade the colour drifts to bronze green and the plant opens up. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and takes light frost only, so hard frosting inland gardens are a stretch.

Soil. It wants drainage above all else and prefers slightly acidic ground. Work compost through the bed, mound the position on heavy clay, and mulch 75mm deep, clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, then taper off as it settles into being drought tolerant. Feed a controlled release fertiliser in early spring. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which pushes soft green growth at the expense of the burgundy tone.

Pruning. Almost none required. To thicken a young plant, tip prune lightly straight after the spring flowering. Avoid shearing it flat, because the weeping habit is the reason to plant it in the first place.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in four sizes: tube stock, 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, and single 300mm plants. For covering an area the packs are the value choice, since you need roughly one plant per square metre. Single 300mm plants suit a pot or patching an existing planting. Tube stock and the 300mm size are currently on backorder.

Young plants arrive compact and upright, and the weeping habit develops as the branches lengthen, so do not judge the shape on day one. Expect real spread through the second season. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to choosing ground cover plants
• Softening fences and retaining walls with planting
• Browse the full groundcover range
• Razzleberri Loropetalum, for the same colour at shrub height

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

One. Planting 1m apart gives full cover in two to three seasons and each plant still has room to show its weeping shape.

Will it stay purple all year?

In full sun, yes, though the tone deepens in cooler weather and lightens through the hottest part of summer. Shade is what dulls it, so position matters more than feeding.

Can it handle frost?

Light frost only. Established plants shrug off the odd cold morning, but repeated hard frosts will burn the foliage, so it is not the pick for tablelands or cold inland gardens.