Loropetalum chinense

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Loropetalum chinense
Loropetalum-chinensis-rubrum.jpg
Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Genus: Loropetalum
Species:
L. chinense
Binomial name
Loropetalum chinense

Loropetalum chinense, commonly known as loropetalum, [1] Chinese fringe flower and strap flower is a shrub or small tree in the witch-hazel family, Hamamelidaceae. [2]

Contents

Description

They are evergreen with branches forming horizontal layers. [1] The leaves are alternately arranged, ovate 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) long by 2.5 cm (1 in) wide, [1] and have a slightly abrasive feel.

Cultivation and uses

Loropetalum chinense grows best in fertile, slightly acidic soil in full sun for deepest foliage colour and is hardy down to -15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit). It is a popular ornamental plant, grown for its prolific clusters of flowers and (in the case of the pink flowering variety) deeply coloured foliage that may contain various green, copper, purple and red tones. The leaves, flowers and roots of L. chinense (Chinese :檵木; pinyin :jìmù) are all used in traditional Chinese medicine. [2]

Cultivars

Two forms of L. chinense exist; a white- (to pale-yellow-) flowering green-leafed variety and a pink-flowering variety with leaves varying from bronze-red when new to olive-green or burgundy when mature, depending on selection and growing conditions.

Cultivar List

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Floridata Plant Profile: #201 Loropetalum chinense" at Floridata.com Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Loropetalum chinense", (R.Br.) Oliv. at Medicinal Plant Images Database. Hong Kong Baptist University School of Chinese Medicine. Retrieved 20 March 2019. (archive)