Loropetalum chinense Ming Dynasty - Chinese Witch Hazel

Loropetalum chinense 'Ming Dynasty' is a Chinese cultivar that stands out with its young foliage in very warm colours, unfurling from purple to coppery orange, passing through bronze pink. The foliage is enhanced by the vibrant colouring of its early flowering. It forms a compact bush, with a more rounded habit than other loropetalums, with spreading lateral branches and small persistent ovate, gracefully pendulous leaves, which turn dark green at maturity. From March to May, it bears numerous intense pink flowers with finely cut petals and a light fragrance, very similar to the flowers of its cousin the Witch Hazel. It sometimes flowers again during mild autumn spells. Requiring no pruning, it is a versatile shrub that can be planted as a flowering free hedge, in a semi-shaded bed, or in a pot on a terrace. Plant it in a sheltered position, under a non-burning exposure in cool, neutral to acidic, rich, and well-drained soil. In regions with mild winters, plant it in a pot to be stored in a bright, frost-free room during winter.

Loropetalum chinense, or Chinese Fringe Flower, is a shrub of the Hamamelidaceae family, as evidenced by its flowers with 4 long ribbon-like petals that resemble those of Witch Hazels. It is native to the forests of the Himalayas in China and in the northern and eastern regions of India, where it grows up to 1200 m (3937 ft) in altitude.

'Ming Dynasty' is a dwarf cultivar of Chinese Fringe Flower, with a spreading habit that turns into a red, purple, and pink fireworks display in late winter! It reaches a height and spread of about 2 m (6.6 ft) at maturity. It develops evergreen foliage. The leaves, entire and ovate in shape, measuring 2 cm to 5 cm (0.8 in to 2 in) in length, are purple to coppery orange, passing through bronze pink when they first emerge, then they turn a dark green shade. The abundant, honey-scented, and nectar-rich flowering occurs from March to May, earlier or later depending on the climate. It lasts about 2 weeks and repeats several times in this variety, even in summer or late summer, in a more sporadic manner. The flowers are grouped in 3 to 6 at the axils of the leaves, along the branches. They consist of 4 slightly twisted, intensely pink, finely cut petals and have a slight fragrance.

Loropetalums are in fashion; beautifully coloured, well-suited for container gardening, and not too bulky, they appeal to urban gardeners. They stand out in spring scenes, beautifully coloured when the garden is still sparsely blooming. Their honey-scented flowers are also a good source of nectar for bees early in the season. Once well established, they are relatively hardy, but young plants can suffer from temperatures as low as -6° C to 7° C (21.2° F to 19.4° F), so they will need protection from severe frost. You can grow them in pots in cold regions, using a non-calcareous but fertile potting soil, and store them during winter. They can be used in a free hedge or within a bed of acid-loving shrubs with staggered flowering: camellias, heaths, witch hazels, azaleas and rhododendrons, andromedas, and hydrangeas, for example.