Color of Ruby Loropetalum? Paghat?

Early last spring, I planted 5 of what I believed to be Ruby Loropetalums in my yard (Zone 7, Raleigh, NC), and they have just started blooming. I know the foliage color of Loropetalum can vary dramatically from variety to variety, but my recollection is that the Ruby variety remains ruby red throughout most of the year. The "problem" is that the foliage on my plants are brownish/green and have been for a while (at least throughout the winter), although there are some fresh hints of the ruby red I like so much. Bottom line, I'm trying to figure out if these are Ruby Loropetalum or if perhaps I planted a different variety. For anyone who has this variety or is familiar with Loropetalums in general, I would appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

Reply to
NoName
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The message from "NoName" contains these words:

There was a thread about them last year iirc, Madgardener grows it and was advising me. You'll find her posts in the google archive.

I don't know much about the one I bought because it was just labelled loropetalum; but it has red-purple leaves and red flowers. The leaves stayed on and red all through its first winter in my garden. Winters are mild and wet here (a few days whn the temp dips just below freezing).

Janet (Isle of Arran, Scotland)

Reply to
Janet Baraclough

I have the same plant and mine "reds up" after the new growth starts to push out. Mine has been blooming all winter. New foliage is just now starting to push out and it is red. Also, I have noticed my plant needs more nitrogen than the other shrubs in the bed where it is planted. So, you may need to give it a side dress of some granular, slow release fertilizer. I'm not a proponent of sewer sludge products, but I do use Milorganite on shrubs in my landscape when they need nitrogen.

Victoria

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Reply to
escape

I have experience with only one shrub, 'Sizzling Pink,' & the behavior of one isn't applicable to all. Mine retains burgundy leaves year-round in Zone 8, but some varieties emerge pinkleafed & harden to a dull green by summer. If it is in a winter wind-exposed area, or winter had extended freezes, I would expect the evergreen leaves to lose their best color in winter. It may be too soon in the season for yours to be producing fresh leaves so all you're seeing are last year's faded leaves. New growth should again have burgundy to reddish coloring. 'Tis my best guess.

-paghat the ratgirl

Reply to
paghat

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