Overview
Crimson Fire Loropetalum is an evergreen purple-leaf shrub selected for compact growth, saturated foliage color, and vivid pink fringe flowers.
Mature Size and Habit
It develops a dense, rounded to slightly spreading framework that remains more restrained than older large loropetalum forms. Plan for an established size of about 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide.
Best Landscape Uses
Use it for foundation contrast, low screening, colorful masses, mixed shrub borders, entry accents, or a clipped or informal hedge.
Sunlight
Full sun produces the deepest foliage color, while partial sun is useful on hot western sites if enough light remains for dense growth.
Soil, Drainage, and Irrigation
Choose fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil; established plants tolerate short dry periods but decline in chronically wet or highly alkaline ground.
Best Planting Season for Tampa and Central Florida
Plant from fall through early spring for easy establishment, or plant in the warm season only with dependable irrigation and monitoring.
Pruning and Maintenance
Prune after the main spring bloom and favor selective cuts over frequent shearing; remove green reversions if they appear and avoid cutting into bare old wood.
Wildlife Value
Spring flowers provide a modest nectar and pollen source for bees and butterflies, while the dense canopy offers limited shelter.
Cold and Heat Sensitivity
It handles Tampa heat once rooted but can scorch in drought or reflected heat; hard freezes may burn foliage, with recovery usually following from healthy wood.
Safety, Roots, and Placement Warnings
No major toxicity or aggressive-root concern is commonly associated with landscape use, but maintain normal clearance and wear gloves during pruning.
Invasive Concerns
Loropetalum is nonnative but is not listed as invasive in Florida; watch for occasional seedlings and keep growth out of adjacent natural areas.
Helpful Resources
For identification, care, and Florida landscape context, review Clemson Cooperative Extension's loropetalum profile. Site conditions vary, so use local soil, drainage, and exposure observations to refine care.
