Loropetalum and Barberry

Loropetalum Burgundy Flowering Shrub

Hardy and a relatively new shrub, Loropetalum has burgundy leaves with deep rose colored tubular flowers. It is heat resistant, easy to grow and maintain. As with most plants in Texas partial sun light works but it can withstand full sunlight! Be certain you purchase the right loropetalum for your garden spot. Do not put a large loropetalam where you need a small shrub, pruning will be required … forever.

Barberry is a popular burgundy colored shrub but it also comes in orange, golden and red tones. I have covered both here so you can be sure to select the correct shrub. These are very popular with Japanese Maples as a complimentary color.

See also Barberry below

Low spreading Loropetalum no more than one foot tall! Darhuma Dwarf and Ruby are the low growing spreading Loropetalums. Above is an example.

Daruma Dwarf Loropetalum only growing six to ten inches tall but speading 18 inches. It is more deep ruby than the 12 inch tall Ruby Loropetalum. It is also known as Pixie Loropetalum (I believe).

Purple Pixie Loropetalum.

Ruby Loreopetalum below with variegated pittosporum.

Pittosporum_Loropetalum_Lee_Ann_Torrans_Dallas_Gardening

Pixie Loropetalum with Variegated Pittosporum. A good and common combination.

Unpruned Loropetalum allowed to grow to its natural size and state.

Loropetalum-Purple - Flowering-Shrub Lee Ann Torrans

Purple Diamond® is the small shrub reading 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. Showy pink flowers appear in spring and sometimes summer. Deep, rich purple foliage holds its color all season.

Loropetalum with Crimson Yuccas

Loropetalum with Sweet Violet Underplanting

Loropetalum - Big Lambs Ear - Japanese Maple

Ruby Loropetalum with NONBLOOMING Lambs Ear. Be sure go get the NONBLOOMING Lambs Ear.

More about Lambs Ear Here …

Blooming Loropetalum

Barberry

The most effective use of Barberry above is as an accent shrub. Above you see it used as a larger accent shrub, below, in the perennial hedge it is used as a smaller accent shrub.

The mounding Barberry can be seen amongst the perennials.

There are too many appropriate sized shrubs that do NOT require pruning. Why waste the effort forcing a shrub to be unnatural in its shape. Place plants where they can reach their natural shape and size and spend your time on something else!

Barberry

I am not a big fan of shrubs that require constant pruning. Barberry comes in many sizes and colors. Select the right size for your landscape.

Two large burgundy Barberry above with three smaller Red Rocket Barberries.

Loropetalum in a tree shaped form with smaller Red Rocket Barberry below.

Unpruned Burgundy Loropetalum allowed room to grow to natural size and state.

Deep purple Loropetalum shrub in Texas.

Full sun and partial shade! Dwarf or full size! Above Barberry sheared into a hedge.

	Japanese Maples with Loropetalum and Barberry – Great combination of burgundy colors. This is a classic combination. Add Purple Shamrock as well. See: Japanese Maples for full display of combined Loropetalum, Barberry and Japanese Maples.

	Read more here on combinations in burgundy.

	Loropetalum as Hedge. You can see how it becomes a little ‘leggy.’

	Barberry sheared into hedge.
	Tonto Crape Myrtle with sheared Barberry in the background.

	Barberry as accent plant in perennial border above.
	Barberry with Creeping Junipers is very popular. Creeping Junipers that do well in Dallas are:’Emerald Isle’, ‘Prince of Wales’ and ‘Wiltoni,’ also known as Blue Rug. These cultivars grow to a height of 6 to 8 inches. Slightly taller cultivars include ‘Bar Harbor’, ‘Hughes’ and ‘Youngstown,’ which may reach about a foot in height.’Nana’ and ‘Greenmound’ are also six to eight inches tall.Juniperus conferta, has a looser, texture these include include ‘Boulevard’, ‘Emerald Sea’ and ‘Blue Pacific’.

	Rug juniper among rocks, very popular landscape feature. Colored loropetalum in the back with a burgundy contrast.

	Full size barberry gets very large. Take your time and find the right size for your garden spot. Lovely artemesia and feather grasses in the planting.
	Large Barberry

	Barberry that has been hacked and pruned. Why?
	Prune your Barberry into a tree, don’t hack it up.
	Prune your barberry into a tree rather than hacking it up.
	This home owner would not have this hacked up Barberry in they had bought Ruby Loropetalum, with a two foot height, initially.
	Barberry Barberry can get leggy. Barberry can get very large.
	Dogwood Trees in Texas with burgandy Barberry contrast. Pruned barberry. It is really not necessary to prune a Barberry. Their natural shape is lovely. Dogwoods in Texas with large contrasting Barberry and beautiful nandina. Mail-Box-Planting-Barberry-Nandina Deep purple barberry shrub turned into a tree form. Burgundy Barberry with Thrift blooming in the background. Barberry with Cross Vine.