Chinese fringe flower is an adorable evergreen shrub that features beautiful flowers. Apart from flowers, this shrub is also cultivated for its foliage, which changes color throughout the year.
The foliage is broad in shade hues to red to green in different seasons.
This flower is named Chinese fringe but it is native to Japan, the Himalayas, and of course China. This shrub is widely popular in china hence the name.
The plant grows red flowers and foliage all year long. Here, in the post, we will know more about how to grow Chinese fringe flowers in the house.
If you already have one, you can read the ideal conditions to grow this shrub.
So, Let’s start…
Quick Guide
| Common Name | Chinese fringe flower, strap flower, Loropetalum |
| Scientific Name | Loropetalum chinense |
| Plant type | shrub |
| Mature Size | 4-5 feet tall and wide (depending on variety) |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun, partial shade |
| Soil Type | Moist, but well-drained soil |
| Soil pH | 4.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic) |
| Bloom Time | Summer, fall |
| Flower Color | Red, yellow-white, pink, white |
| Hardiness Zones | 7 to 9 USDA |
| Native Area | China and Japan |
How to grow Chinese Fringe Flower
You can grow Chinese fringe flowers either from nursery small plants or by stem cutting. Usually, gardeners propagate this shrub from the small plant which they buy from the nursery.
But, you already have one Chinese fringe flower that you can grow from stem cuttings. These shrubs can be grown in containers, pots, or garden beds.
When to grow
Plant the Chinese fringe flowers from mid-spring to fall. This will not shock them from extreme heat. If you plant a new shrub during summer it might not settle due to warm conditions.
If you can propagate from stem cutting then start growing them just after winter. Planting early in the season gives them enough time to get established.
Where to grow
Chinese fringe flowers like to shine in full sunlight. Plant them in a pot or container where they get continuous sunlight. Planting them in a shaded area will cause wilt or undergrown plants.
Chinese fringe flowers can easily be grown when provided with ideal conditions. You can plant them in a garden or in a pot that spreads according to its surroundings.
How to propagate chinese fringe flower from stem cutting
You can grow multiple fringe flowers from its stem cutting.
To grow:
- Cut five to six inches long stem cutting from the plant.
- Cut the cutting using gardening shear. Do not try to tear or break stem cutting, this will cause permanent damage to the plant.
- The cutting should have some leaves and no flowers.
- Remove all leaves from the bottom half of the stem cuttings.
- Dip the cutting end in rooting hormone, this is optional it boosts root growth.
- Plant the stem cutting in a medium-size pot. They must have adequate drainage holes.
- Fill the pot with potting mix soil. Use rich, fertile soil with good drainage.
- Water the soil to make it moist. Place the pot in indirect light.
- Do not place the pot in full sunlight, the plant does not have roots yet. Planting in the full sunlight will damage its growth.
- The plant takes 20 to 30 days to grow roots. You get to know when it starts producing new growth.
- Water the cutting regularly but do not overwater.
How to care for chinese fringe flower
Chinese fringe flowers do not need much maintenance, once they get established. To make this shrub grow, you have to provide the ideal condition.
Light
This chub like to grow in full sun to partial shade. In the hot summer, the condition is vital to give some shade to this plant. if not it might suffer from leaf burn.
Ideally, planted Chinese flower flowers were in early morning sunlight and afternoon shade. Early morning sunlight help to make plants’ petal spread. However, in the afternoon the sunlight becomes a bit harsh especially in summer, shade during this period will help it.
Make sure the plant gets at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
If you do not have an area that gets six to eight hours of direct sunlight. Plant it in a pot, so that you can chase sunlight by replacing it.
Water
Chinese fringe flowers become drought-tolerant once they get established. But, moist soil helps them to keep growing. It is recommended to water once daily.
But, avoid overwatering. Water only when the soil surface looks dry. Adding too much water to the soil will make the soil moist and might lead to diseases such as root rot.
Overwatering is not a big issue in the plants that are planted in the ground. When you overwater the water goes underground. But, in the pot and container, the plant has more damage.
Soil
Soil is an essential part of any plant’s growth. Chinese fringe flowers need rich, fertile soil. You can amend a thick layer of organic compost to fertilize the soil.
Use organic matter like a banana peel, eggshells, and used tea bags to make soil compost. It will boost plant growth. Ideally, this shrub grows best at pH levels between 4.5 to 6.5.
You can check your soil pH level with a test. However, pH level does not put much effect on the plant.
Fertilizer
When planted in the right soil Chinese fringe flower do not require adding fertilizer. They can grow well in normal well-drained soil. But, if you want you can add some water-soluble fertilizer at the beginning of the new season.
Adding too much conventional fertilizer will affect plant growth in a bad way. It increases soil nitrogen levels which causes excessive growth of leaves and less flower.
If you want your plant to produce more bloom in the season. It is better to amend the soil with organic matter than conventional fertilizers.
Temperature and humidity
Chinese fringe flowers grow best in hardiness zones 7 to 9. It can tolerate cold up to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-17.8 degrees Celsius). However, it is recommended to protect this shrub from cold wind.
If you planted it in a pot bring it inside in the winter. When planted in-ground spread a thick layer of mulch around its roots. This will protect the plant’s roots from cold wind.
Pruning
This shrub is extremely tolerant to pruning, many gardeners used this for hedging or topiaries. However, this plant does not need heavy pruning. They can grow beautiful flowers naturally. The blooms on Chinese fringe flowers are adapted in old woods, so do not prune them during summer and early fall.
Common pests and diseases
Usually, Chinese fringe flowers are not susceptible to any pests and diseases.
But, they can be victims of some common plant pests like spider mites and aphids. Diseases like powdery mildew, and root rot. These problems all happen when plants do not get ideal conditions. If you provide it with proper care, do not worry.
Some popular varieties of Chinese fringe flowers
Jazz Hands variegated – ‘Irodori’
This variety grows up to 4 to 6 feet in height and 4 feet in width. It features hot pink flowers and variegated foliage. This plant is used for container planting as well as mass planning in the garden. It features pink, and white splotches of leaves that turn burgundy when mature.
Jazz hands night moves
This variety from mounding foliage grows about 2 to 4 feet in height and width. This plant features white flowers and variegated and plum foliage.
Purple pixie – ‘Peack’
This plant grows 1 to 2 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. It considers a dwarf variety in the Chinese fringe flowers family. It features dark purple foliage with a combination of pink flowers. People grow this in a hanging basket, container, or window box.
‘Ruby’
Ruby form mounding foliage that grows about 4 to 5 feet in height and width. It features a pink stripe petal flower with dark green leaves.
Ever Red – ‘Chang Nian Hong’
This variety has vivid spidery red flowers and burgundy foliage. It grows 6 feet both in height and width.
Emerald Snow – ‘Shang-white’
This variety grows 3 to 4 feet in height and width. It produces white color bloom with light green leaves. This plant is grown in containers, garden beds, or in the garden borders.
Razzleberri – ‘Monroz’
This variety’s flower grows in an upright direction. Grow about 4 to 5 inches in height and width. It features deep rose flowers and fading green foliage. This combination makes them one of the elegant shrubs.
Toxicity
Chinese fringe flowers are not toxic to humans and pets like dogs and cats. Ingestion of any plant can cause mild stomach upset. If your pets or kids have a habit of eating flower petals do not grow this shrub at home.
Companion plants for Chinese fringed flowers
There are some plants that you can grow along with Chinese fringe flowers to make your garden or plant collection more adorable. Below are some plant companion plants for Chinese fringe flowers.
- Lavender
- Hydrangea
- Coleus
- Colla bell
- Japanese forest grass
- Lilyturf
- Viburnum
- Agapanthus
- Heavenly bamboo
- Spiraea
- Many types of Conifers
Hey! I’m Madhuresh, a passionate content creator, and a Plant lover. I created Shiny Plant to explore and learn about new plants. The purpose is to provide simple and effective Gardening Tips. Hope you’ll find this informative.