Loropetalum chinense 'Firedance'

This looks quite exotic. Is it a very lax shrub? can`t quite tell from the photo.

Not really, it's just a small one at the moment...I hope it'll grow! I almost lost the last one last winter, but I've left it in as there seem to be small buds on the stems.

sounds like a cilla black plant lorra petals :o)

very nice looking and one I've not heard off before.

It is a lovely little shrub - I also have Loropetalum chinense, which has pinky-new leaves, then green, but the same ribbon-y flowers - very like a Hamamelis., only bright pink. It's up against the house wall, so it's warmer, and it's thriving. I still have to fleece it to be safe, though!

Maybe Cilla named it.....LOL.

Bet you didn't expect me here:-) Having seen an advert (2litre pot, established 3 yr old, 2 for 19.99) for this and having googled like mad, I was wondering if it's come through this winter ok? I could, I suppose keep them in pots and move one into little front porch and keep the other pot against house wall, but obviously would rather plant in the border. Have you seen the bright red flowered one? In some places they grow as trees. There's a beauty on you tube, breathtaking:-)

They don't look too happy, Ba. :-(( I have had them fleeced, too. I think I may be able to cut the dead growth off in the spring when I can tell whether they'll produce more growth. Fingers crossed. No, I haven't seen any red ones!

The L. chinense against the house wall is much better - hardly any damage. Still fleeced, though!

I think I'd have to grow them in pots, although it defeats the object of the exercise i.e. something nice to look out at in the winter, don't suppose a fleece is very decorative lol. Hope yours recover:-)

Thanks, Ba. The smaller one was badly hit last year, so all the growth it put on will have to go again! Poor little thing. I'm not sure it'll be worth keeping it, to be honest. :-(

Is it in a very sheltered spot? On some sites the advice is full sun to part shade and moist but well drained. Maybe I'll give up on having them. I think I'm just a bit desperate to have something evergreen (or purple) and winter flowers, my garden looks awful at the moment. i've bought some big heathers, but to be very honest, I've never been that keen :-)

The chilly wind wrecks them, Ba, as well as the frost. I have a feeling they wouldn't like it even as far further north as you are. Have you thought of Skimmias? They're lovely in the winter. They grow happily in my neutral soil, or they'll grow in acid too - not alkaline though.

I've got reevesiana Spritz, but wanted the pretty flowers and purple leaves:-( I'm like a magpie with sparkley things lol but in my case it's when I see beautiful plants especially in the winter:-)

I have Pseudowintera colorata, which is a wonderful colour - but I'm not sure it would be OK further north. Take a look at that.

I've just looked Spritz, what lovely leaves, described by some as half hardy so probably as bad as the loropetalum:-( I'll have to move lol:-)

I'm surprised at that! Mine isn't fleeced, but it's fine. Hmmm...maybe I'd better protect that, as well! :-((

You'll probably be ok where you are:-)

I found yet another casualty today - a second Ceanothus is dead. :-( It's just awful, what's died.

How awful, was it a mature one? It's been frozen here last 2 days, I'm not going to look until the weather gets better. my cornus lavander twist is still in its pot by house wall, doesn't look good, but I'm afraid to test it in case the frost gets in lol. It may never know the joy of freedom ¦:-( Have you noticed my eye brows? I think they make me look more serious, soon be spring! ¦:-)

They're...very suitable, Ba! ;-)

Yes, it was one I inherited, and it was a bit straggly and leggy, so I'm not upset - that one will be an opportunity! It's a good position, too - facing west and against a stone wall. I was wondering about an Abutilon!

Nah go for something more exciting:-) Which one are you interested in? My variegated trachelospermum would be good there, Bamboo wants it, but I don't drive. Told her to try ebay, where I got mine in a fit of winter madness. It will have to learn to like a pot. Why can't I want something hardy? I may go for a big rhodo, at least that's hardy, not sure about the variegated ones though. I wonder if I could put something up it if it wasn't too dense?¦:-)

I've never had an Abutilon before, though. I quite fancy one! ;-/

Red, Yellow, mottled leaf?

Not sure yet. I think it would have to be a yellow one as it would be right next to my Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'.

What about acacia? I believe some are hardy down to -11 and I think slight perfume. And what about that lovely shrub which was very popular a few years ago, can't remember its name lol. Open yellow flowers for ages best with wall protection..you know the one...now what's it called....(scratching of head) ¦:-)

Errrr....no idea! :-( I think Acacia would be too big, even though I like it.

I've got it!!! fremontodendron, ok down to -15 if not prolonged. It was in all the garden centres years ago, think it flowers for ever:-) Wonder if anyone on goy has an acacia, I'm going to look:-)

There are a few growing in Goy gardens uk, one in Birmingham, a beauty owned by Blyco in Birmingham who no longer seems to be on site, but his pics are. I might grow one myself:-)

Oh yes - my friend up the lane has that. I might well be tempted! Hers is growing against a wall. Thanks, Ba. x