Once in a while there is a new plant that makes an impact over the entire country. The new Chinese Fringe Flowers, or Loropetalum as we call them, have been making news all over the country. Cascading branches covered in dark purple-red leaves and spider-like dark magenta-pink flowers are a wonderful addition to the landscape. The flowers nearly cover the plants in spring and then bloom sporatically through summer and again in fall. The foliage is evergreen and the growth habit is similar to crape myrtle.

'Zhuzhou' and 'Pizazz' are two taller growing varieties best suited for tree-form. Zhuzhou is the taller growing of the two and reaches a height of up to 15 feet. Pizazz grow to about 10 feet in height. Many lower growing loropetalums can also be limbed up to form small tree form specimens.