Loropetalum

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Loropetalum >

Read about Loropetalum in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Loropetalum (Greek loros, strap, and petalum, alluding to the strap-shaped petals), Hamamelidacae. Ornamental shrubs grown chiefly for their white flowers, appearing in winter or early spring. Evergreen, stellate-pubescent: lvs. alternate, short- petioled, entire, without stipules: fls. fascicled at the end of short branchlets, sessile; calyx short, 4-lobed; petals 4, linear; stamens 4, with very short filaments; ovary inferior, 2-celled: caps, woody, dehiscent, 2- seeded.—Two species in China. Only L. chinense is in cultivation, a handsome much- branched shrub with rather small dull persistent foliage and clustered white or sometimes yellowish or greenish white feathery flowers in early spring. It will probably be hardy as far north as Washington, D. C. It is a desirable plant for the cool greenhouse and if grown in pots a peaty and sandy soil will suit it best. Even where the plant is hardy out-of-doors, the flowers are liable to be injured by frost. Propagation is by seeds, and probably by grafting on Hamamelis. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Loropetalum
Loropetalum Chinense Rubrum
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Saxifragales Family: Hamamelidaceae Genus: Loropetalum
Species
Loropetalum chinense Loropetalum lanceum Loropetalum subcordatum

Loropetalum is a genus of 3 species of shrub in the witch-hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, native to Japan and south-eastern Asia.

The name Loropetalum refers to the shape of the flowers and comes from the Greek loron meaning strap and petalon meaning petal. Flowers are produced in clusters during spring and are similar to those of the closely related witch-hazel. Each flower consists of four to six (depending on species) slender strap shaped petals 1-2 cm long.

The species are:

• Loropetalum chinense - white-flowering variety up to 3.7 m tall, pink-flowering variety up to 1.5 m tall
• Loropetalum lanceum - up to 13 m tall, white flowers
• Loropetalum subcordatum - up to 12 m tall

References

• Flora of china: Loropetalum
• San Marcos Growers: Loropetalum

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