Loropetalum chinense

Chinese fringe flower

Just today, July 2, 2025, I discovered a new habit by our local squirrel population. Actually, just one critter, but others will likely follow. In our garden there is Loropetalum chinense 'Raspberry Fringe' (we will get back to the name later in this post). A cultivar of the Chinese fringe flower, as it is commonly called, Raspberry Fringe is a dwarf. According to the label, it should only reach 5' tall at most with a similar width. We planted it in autumn 2020, and the growth has thrived ever since and is approximately 30" tall. It blooms profusely in spring, but not until today did I learn from a squirrel that it bears fruiting capsules. According to Patrick Breen of Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences Department of Horticulture, in note form, "Fruit a 2-valved capsule, nut-like, to 12 mm diam, lower part enveloped by floral cup, apparently uncommon in cultivation." Lucky us to have an uncommon condition, which is surprising for a dwarf cultivar. The squirrel continued to collect and eat about six of the capsules before scurrying off. The seed capsules and other plant structures have been used in traditional folk medicines, but they are not recommended for consumption.

The species, Loropetalum chinense, has gained in popularity among landscapers for its reliability in diverse conditions. This does not mean it will thrive, per se, but for some, "good enough" is, well, enough. Ideally, L. chinense performs optimally in Northern California with a break from hot sun and an acidic soil maintaining light moisture. Unlike many cultivars that have developed in recent history, Chinese fringe flowers have white spring blooming flowers and drab green foliage. Some websites describe the foliage as having a sandpaper feel, but that implies a very rough surface to me. Think of the fine sandpaper used for finishing work. That texture is due to noticeably short, fine hair on the surface of the leaves. Even with minute hairs and drab color, I noticed a slight gloss when shifting leaves in light. Subtle.

For designers, Loropetalum chinense and its various cultivars offer tremendous flexibility for use as an accent, informal hedge (I recommend avoiding formal hedges, simply because their character becomes lost in translation, meaning they will not bloom as well), or as an understory plant. Despite its popularity in commercial landscapes, its sculptural value lends itself to Asian inspired gardens in combination with other species that thrive in acidic soil.

Now for the name of our cultivar, Loropetalum chinense 'Raspberry Fringe'. I see very few references to it but instead see an uncanny resemblance to L. chinense 'Monroz', also known as Razzleberri® fringe flower. I will not disclose the nursery or grower that provided the plant, but propagating registered cultivars without permission is a no-no. That said, I am not one hundred percent sure the 'Raspberry Fringe' is identical, so I will leave it at that. There are numerous other cultivars that vary by depth of color, variegation, and size.

The following video by Bay Area landscape architect Jeff Wortham highlights Loropetalum's use in the landscape, and toward the end, recommends numerous species compatible with them. The plants in the video look much lighter in color than in person, and that could be due to their flush of new growth.

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facts

Botanical Name:  Loropetalum chinense

  Loropetalum: Greek, loron, for strap-like appearance; petalum referencing the flower's form that is common among genus in the witch hazel family.

Chinense: Associated with China

Common Name: Chinese fringe flower

Family Name:  Hamamelidaceae

Origin: China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand

design considerations

Positioning: Middle to background, depending upon mature size

Garden Themes: Asian, woodland, coastal, cottage, drought tolerant (but not extreme)

Uses: Informal hedge (formal with limitations), shrub border, accent, container (dwarf cultivars), foundation, screen (full size species), specimen

identifying characteristics

Type: Evergreen shrub (may be deciduous in harsher winter areas)

Form: Arching vase, multi-trunk; occasionally available as small standard

Texture: Medium

Size: 5' tall and wide but up to 15' with age

Outstanding Feature(s): Flower; leaf color of cultivars

Stem: Brown; young stems may be pubescent with a copper color appearance

Leaf:

• Type:  Simple

• Arrangement: Alternate

• Shape: Elliptic

• Margin: Entire to serrate

• Color: Medium drab green, pale underside (see cultivars for variations)

• Surface: Pubescent

Flower: Spring with occasional blooms throughout the year. Multiple white or cream color strap-like petals similar to witch hazel. Mild fragrance.

Fruit: Summer. Small, brown capsule with cap, similar to an acorn in appearance.

cultural requirements, tolerances & problems

Sunset Zones:  6-9, 14-24

USDA Zones: 7b - 9b

Light:  Full sun to light shade

WUCOLS SF Bay Area Hydro Zone:  Low

Soil:

• Texture: Loam, sand, clay, highly composted

• Moisture Retention: Well-drained but prefers moderate moisture

• pH: Slightly acidic

Tolerances: Deer, drought

Problems:

• Branch Strength: Medium to weak, flexible when young but easy to snap with age

• Insects: Spider mites, aphids

• Disease: Root rot in poor draining soils; chlorosis in alkaline soils

citations & attributions

Bayton, R. (2019). The Royal Horticultural Society's the Gardener's Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names. London: Mitchell Beazley.

Breen, P. "Landscape Plants." College of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvalis. Accessed on July 2, 2025, from https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/loropetalum-chinense.

Extension Gardener.  "Loropetalum chinense." North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Accessed on July 2, 2025, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/loropetalum-chinense/.

Norris Brenzel, K. (Ed.). (2012). The New Sunset Western Garden Book. New York: Time Home Entertainment, Inc.

Plant Finder.  "Loropetalum chinense." Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. Accessed on July 2, 2025, from https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=281039.

Water Use Classification of Landscape Species. "WUCOLS IV Plant List." University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Davis. Accessed on July 2, 2025, from https://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/wucols-db.

Wu, W., Wen, S., Feng, T., Chen, G., & Yang, B. (2021). Review of Loropetalum chinense as an Industrial, Aesthetic, and Genetic Resource in China. HortScience, 56(10), 1148-1153. https://www.doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15962-21.

Photos:

• Photos 1 and 2 of paired white blooms and pink bloom available at Shutterstock.

• All other photos by TELCS.