7-8 feet tall fringe flower at Atlanta Botanical Gardens (early April

late in flower cycle

Loropetalum or Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinensis) has clearly caught on with professional landscapers and gardeners (USDA hardiness zones 7 thru 9). It is rated as marginally hardy in northerly zones 6-b, and has succeeded in consecutive mild winters in the past decade. The winter of 2014 had killed some established plants to the ground, but most had re-sprouted by late spring.

This early flowering fringe flowering shrub is a member of the witchhazel family (Hamamelidaceae). Fragrant creamy white flowers open from mid- April into May and in late March in Southern states. Fringe flower occasionally may re-bloom during the summer and fall. Reddish and purple foliage forms are now available in addition to dark green cultivars.

Depending on variety, shrubs grow from 6 feet to 15 feet and 4 to 5 feet wide. New compact cultivars may reach only 2 to 3 feet tall. Short compact cultivars are perfect as borders or as groundcovers in foundation plantings. Taller forms may be utilized as screens and some Southern gardeners train them into small trees.

Fringe flower excels in full day sunlight, but also grow well under light afternoon shade. Plant in moderately acidic (ph5.5-7.0), well- drained soil. Fertilize shrubs in spring and water regularly over summer dry periods.

The return of an old fashioned cold winter could alter your opinion of fringe flower. You might consider the following five cultivars as perhaps cold hardier: ‘Burgundy Blast’, ‘ZhuZhou’, ‘Cherry Blast’, ‘Garnet Fire’, and ‘Purple Diamond’. A new semi-dwarf cultivar named ‘Crimson Fire’ may also be slightly hardier.

At this writing gardeners should continue to rate fringe flower as not reliably hardy north of zone 7.