Fireworks for your garden!
If you’re in the United States, Independence Day is coming up next Thursday. You may be grilling up hotdogs and watching a fireworks show to celebrate, so today, I thought it’d be fitting to tell you about a shrub whose flowers look a lot like fireworks: Jazz Hands® Pink Chinese fringe-flower (Loropetalum chinense).
This colorful evergreen shrub boasts dark purple foliage with warm burgundy new growth, creating an eye-catching mound in the garden year-round. In spring, vibrant hot pink flowers burst from the branches like fireworks, contrasting beautifully with the dark foliage.
Jazz Hands® Pink is a warm-climate shrub suited for USDA zones 7-9. At 3-5’ tall and wide, this shrub has a fabulous small to midsize habit. This beauty will shine in the middle of the border, as a fun hedge, or even in a decorative container. Thrives in full to part sun and prefers moist, well-drained soil. This bold little shrub is deer-resistant and heat-tolerant.
Jazz Hands® Pink doesn’t require pruning, but if you’d like to give it a trim, do so after it flowers in spring. Pruning it any other time will affect the flower show. For the best year-round color, fertilize in spring and again in summer.
Give your garden some drama
The deep purple foliage of Jazz Hands® Pink Chinese fringe-flower can add a touch of drama to the garden. If you’re looking to make a statement in your space, consider adding a shrub with purple leaves to break up all the green. Check out my “8 Shrubs With Purple Leaves to Add Drama to Your Garden” blog for some inspiration.