Lorapetalum Fire Dance....

Mine has now give up - AGAIN. Grrrrrr :-(

take it won't be planting yet then DD - a lovely shrub , very nice colouring

Super dark leaves :o)

Mine is in a pot near the cons. door (outside). It is looking really dreadful again....I think I'll move it back inside the greenhouse asap.

Mine has just struggled through the winter,(down to -9) my first one survived for 5 years but died in the hard winter 2 years ago (-14) well worth th effort though :o)

I have this one , it's been in a pot in the greenhouse all winter ... the ticket with it states it can stand temps up to -5 it's looking good so far .....

I read somewhere that although it is, as you say, quite hardy....it needs about 5C to flower well in the winter, so I really should have left it in the greenhouse! I did think of keeping it in the conservatory, but it's heated and I thought I didn't want it to get too softened!

I think you were probably wise Karen , do you know I brought some young plants indoors ,ones I was worried about losing in the frost , I only brought the larger plants in they were Meconopsis ( Blue poppy's ) I had grown from seed , I left the small ones in the greenhouse to take their chances , all the larger plants died indoors the little ones in the greenhouse are flourishing , goes to show you can mollycoddle them to much ......

See, that's exactly my fear Amy...what a shame...never mind, you can replace them :)

OH dear, very mixed comments on this shrub, Andrew sorry to hear yours has gone........
Plantoholic is it in a pot? or planted we are not likely to get temperatures as low as that here.......( I hope)
Karen obviously you are going to keep it in a pot then?
and you too Amy?
I really wanted to put this one in the ground, if at all possible, these plants are in our garden room which is unheated, and blooming cold!! in a few weeks they will go out under some polythene to harden off before being put in a sheltered border.....
Paul and TT thanks for your comments, I think the leaves are beautiful with the bright pink....

Yes, keeping mine in a pot.

Me to ,I don't want to risk losing it ...

Mine is now back in the greenhouse. Looks a bit dishevelled, but I'm sure it will be ok.

Mine is in the gound Dd, this is the second winter it has come through. My first on was also in the ground see
http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/199816-loropetalum-fire-dance/member/plantoholic
and flowered well each year getting to around 1m x 1m before getting killed by -14 2 years ago. Some of the tips did get scorched but I just trimmed them back each spring. Hardyness depends on several things so its hard to give a definitive temp. but I try to grow things in the ground if I can even if I have to fleece up now and then, hope yours grows well :o)))

PH - I think drainage might be important as well. Mine was under fleece, with the roots covered with a dry mulch and it died. My friend, who gardens a mile away on Bagshot Sand, gave hers no protection and its not even looking bedraggled

Im sure it plays a part, my soil is on the heavy side but I improved the soil and drainage as much as possible before planting, it is also sheltered from the cold winds from the north and east which has probably helped as well.

That's a beauty! I reminds me of Pseuderanthemum atropurpureum 'Black Varnish', which I have in my garden.

I took a photo of this plant (as a huge hedge) is full bloom about a month ago. It was incredible with thousands of flowers.

Here's the pic, you may remember it.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/263986-loropetalum-blooming/member/Delonix1

PH as you say there are several factors to take in to consideration, the cold wind is a problem here, so will fleece tender plants.
Andrew that is interesting, so was it the soil or the position that finished it off?
Delonix I remember the picture very well.....I would rather put it in the garden if possible.

DD - I think it must be the soil as its in a relatively sheltered corner, and was covered with fleece and with a dry mulch over the roots

Sounds like the soil Andrew, will you bother with another one?

Probably not

Shame.....