Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum Ruby Snow - Chinese Witch Hazel

Loropetalum chinense Ruby Snow® is a devilishly seductive new Japanese creation: this little bush offers a magnificent contrast between its purple foliage and its white strip flowers. They bloom abundantly from late winter to spring, and then more sporadically during the summer or autumn depending on the climate. This unique colour, combined with its small size, allows for many uses and combinations, especially since its foliage is decorative all year round. Plant it in a field of plants or perennials, or even in a large pot on the terrace or balcony, it will enhance all neighboring plants. Its only weakness is relative hardiness: outside of mild regions, it will be grown in pots and stored away from heavy frost in winter.

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, or Chinese Fringe Flower with purple leaves, is a bush from the Hamamelidaceae family, as evidenced by its 4 long ribbon-like petals that resemble those of Hamamelis. It is native to the forests and copse of the Himalayas in China, and the northern and eastern regions of India, where it grows up to 1200m (3937ft) altitude. It prefers a rather acidic and well-drained soil, and is more tolerant than it appears: it adapts to fairly dry soils in summer, to heat, and tolerates a little limestone.

'Ruby Snow'® (Iwai) is a recently selected cultivar in Japan by Yuji Suzuki, and distributed in Europe by Plantipp. This cultivar has a compact, airy, and rather upright habit. Its growth is slow, it does not exceed 80cm (31.5in) in all directions when mature. Its foliage persists in winter in not too harsh climates. The entire oval-shaped leaves, 2 to 4cm (0.8 to 1.6in) long, are red when they emerge, then turn purple-violet to brownish, and eventually become dark olive green during the season. The abundant, honey and nectar-rich flowering takes place from February-March to May, earlier or later depending on the climate, and lasts about 3 weeks. Depending on the climate, it can bloom again in summer and autumn. The flowers are grouped in the axils of the leaves, along the branches. They are composed of 4 long ribbon-like petals, slightly twisted, creamy white in colour and lightly fragrant. The dazzling color of the flowers creates a magnificent contrast with the dark and rich hue of the foliage.

Loropetalums are in fashion; interesting in all seasons, well suited for pot cultivation, and not space-consuming. They are elegant and colourful, appealing to urban gardeners as well as lovers of English gardens. They stand out in spring scenes, very beautiful when the garden is still very little in bloom. The honey-rich flowers are also a good source of nectar for bees early in the season. You can cultivate it in pots in cold regions, in a non-limestone but fertile soil, and store it away in winter. Once well established, 'Ruby Snow'® proves to be water-efficient. It is a very pretty variety for decorating small spaces, borders, flowerbeds, and terraces. For example, associate it with dwarf abelias, creeping plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), Berberis 'Atropurpurea Nana', forget-me-nots, Brunnera, perennial or shrubby salvias, or even with Santolinias.