Loropetalum chinense China Pink

Loropetalum 'China Pink' (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'China Pink') pairs deep burgundy foliage with fringed, hot pink spring flowers on a rounded shrub about 1.5m tall and wide. It holds its colour year round, clips well, and handles frost, dry spells and humid summers with equal indifference. As colour contrast for hedges, borders and pots, it does a lot of work for very little care.

Why you'll love it

• Burgundy foliage every day of the year. The evergreen leaves keep their deep colour through all seasons, giving permanent contrast against greens and greys.
• Fringe flowers in spring. Clusters of narrow hot pink petals cover the bush in spring and pull in bees and butterflies.
• Shapes to the job. Leave it informal, clip it as a low hedge, or grow single plants in pots and borders. It accepts all of it without complaint.
• Hardier than it looks. Frost hardy, drought tolerant once established and comfortable in humidity, it runs from cool temperate gardens up to the subtropics.

Where it works best

Low hedges. Plant 1m apart for a low hedge and clip after flowering. The burgundy line reads sharply against paving, lawn and light coloured walls.

Mass planting and borders. Repeated in blocks at the same 1m spacing it gives a bed structure and colour that persist when the flowers finish.

Pots and feature planting. A single plant in a container makes an easy, long lived feature for a porch or courtyard in sun.

Growing Loropetalum China Pink in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings out the deepest burgundy; in part shade the foliage drifts greener and flowering thins. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate climates and is fully frost hardy.

Soil. Free draining soil with some organic matter worked through. It prefers conditions slightly acidic, so avoid heavy applications of lime nearby.

Water and feed. Water through the first summer, after which established plants tolerate dry spells. Feed in spring with a controlled release fertiliser for garden shrubs.

Pruning. Clip or shape just after the spring flowering so you never sacrifice the next display. It tolerates regular light trims far better than occasional hard ones.

What to expect when it arrives

China Pink is sold as tube stock, in 140mm pots as a pack of ten, in 200mm pots as a pack of six, and as single 300mm plants. Tubes are the budget route for long hedge runs and grow away quickly, while a 300mm plant gives immediate presence. All sizes travel well boxed upright. Orders are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse all flowering shrubs
• Compare hedging and screening plants
• More shrubs that suit pots

Common questions

How do I keep the foliage deep burgundy?

Sun. Colour intensity tracks light levels, so plants in full sun stay darkest while shaded plants drift toward green. Position is the whole trick.

What spacing for a hedge?

1m apart in a single row for a low hedge. Plants meet within a couple of seasons and clip into a continuous band around 1m to 1.5m tall.

How hard can I prune it?

Routine clipping after flowering is ideal. If a plant has outgrown its spot, reduce it in stages over a couple of seasons rather than with one brutal cut.

Will it take frost?

Yes, it is frost hardy and reliable through cool temperate winters. It needs no special protection once it is in the ground and established.