Loropetalum chinsense pruning

Posts

• Nollie Posts: 7,529

  May 2020

  Loropetalum Chinense are best pruned in late spring/early summer/after flowering has finished. I find they don’t need a lot of pruning, just prune off wayward branches and reduce the height a little as I like them lower and spreading.
  
  I have several of the Black Pearl variety (hardy to -10). Fire dance is a wee bit more tender, I think, so if you have had a very cold, windy spell that might make the leaves brown, but I’m not sure as I don’t grow that variety. They are not ‘acid loving’ plants but do prefer a neutral to slightly acidic soil, so of you soil is alkaline, a top dressing of ericaceous compost around the plant or a weak feed for acid plants might perk them up.

  Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.

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• gardenman91 Posts: 429

  May 2020

  Hi Nollie
  
  I guess I could prune it back now then? Could I take up to a 1/3 of the plant away? Thank you for the advice.
  
  Many thanks
  
  Josh

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• Nollie Posts: 7,529

  May 2020

  Hi, I would probably hold off for a couple of weeks, isn’t the UK due a cold spell and even a bit of frost in some regions? It depends whereabouts you are, climate-wise and whether it has finished flowering. I think you will be ok to prune up to a third off, but prune selectively and try and retain it’s natural shape rather than just lopping a third off the top which might leave it looking beheaded! So prune out any dead or damaged branches, cut back any long, wayward branches to the main framework and give the rest just a light trim if it needs it.

  Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.

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• gardenman91 Posts: 429

  May 2020

  Brilliant advice thank you Nollie! Yes I think we’re due a few colder nights so I shall leave it for now anyway

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