Plant, care for and overwinter belt blossoms

This colorful plant with unusual flowers is a real gem in the garden. The ornamental shrub shines in all its glory, while most of the other plants are not yet in the starting blocks.

The Belt Blossom (Loropetalum chinense) is the ideal plant to give your garden that certain something even in the cold season. Everything you need to know about care, location requirements and the most beautiful varieties of the evergreen shrub can be found here.

Belt flower: origin, flower and properties

As the botanical name of the strap flower suggests, it has its origins in China, Japan and northeastern India. There it can even reach a height of up to three meters. In our climate, the evergreen shrub grows to about 1.5 meters in height and about the same width. The deciduous tree is usually heavily branched and characterized by a bushy, dense growth. The leaves of the belt flower are ovate, have entire margins, are slightly pointed at the end and are alternate on the shoots. In addition, the leaves, petioles and young shoots are slightly hairy. Depending on the variety, the leaves are intensely purple or deep green in color and hang on the bush all year round. The red-leaved varieties in particular adorn the autumn and early winter garden.

The flowers of Loropetalum chinense are pink or white and sit in groups of three to six in the leaf axils on annual and perennial wood. They appear in spring - depending on the variety, the flowering time is between the end of February and mid-May. Also, they remind you of them witch hazel (witch hazel) and not without reason. Both plants come from the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae). Despite the strikingly designed flowers, the strap flower is not exceptionally bee-friendly.

tip: The shrub is only conditionally hardy and must be protected from prolonged sub-zero temperatures, which is why pot culture is ideal in most locations.

The most beautiful strap flower varieties

Of course, among the most popular varieties of sling flower are those that bring the most color to the garden. In the following we will present them to you in more detail.

• Loropetalum chinense ˈEmerald Snowˈ: This variety has emerald green foliage with snow-white flowers and grows to a height of about 60 to 90 cm. The main flowering time of ˈEmerald Snowˈ is in spring.
• Loropetalum chinense ˈBlack Pearlˈ: The leaves of the 'Black Pearl' variety are deep dark red to black-red and the pink flowers also appear in March and April. This strap flower can reach a height of 150 cm.

• Loropetalum chinense ˈEver redˈ: A slightly smaller specimen with a height of 70 to 80 cm and a width of about 100 cm is the 'Ever Red' variety. It is adorned with reddish flowers from March to April.
• Loropetalum chinense ˈRuby Snowˈ: The contrasting play of colors of the flowers and leaves make this variety a real eye-catcher. Its flowers are snow-white and its foliage is dark purple. The plant is about 80 to 100 cm high and 100 to 150 cm wide. The flowering period extends from February to April.
• Loropetalum chinense ˈMing Dynastyˈ: The bronze-colored shoots of this variety later change to medium-green foliage. The pink, fragrant flowers appear from March to May. In addition, the shrub can reach a height of 180 to 200 cm.

Location, Earth and Co.

The belt flower should only be planted outdoors in regions with mild winter temperatures, because it hardly tolerates sub-zero temperatures. However, the shrub is ideal for pot culture, which also enables frost-free wintering. In our latitudes, this variant should be preferred to outdoor planting. The evergreen plant likes a sunny to semi-shady position and is best in a sheltered spot.

Notice: Although the strap flower is an evergreen shrub, it can also shed its foliage in winter in cool locations.

The belt flower needs a permeable, humus-rich, nutrient-rich soil with a pH value that is ideally in the slightly acidic range. To adjust the pH value in the planting hole, our Plantura Organic Acid Soil be mixed in as needed. It consists of 100% natural raw materials and is also peat-reduced.

When planting in a bucket, it is important to ensure that the excess irrigation water can run off. Otherwise, the shrub is not planted deeper than before into the permeable, nutrient-rich soil. An acidic, purely organic substrate should preferably be used here, for which our Plantura Organic Acid Soil well suited. If mild temperatures and a sheltered location allow planting outdoors, a planting distance of about 100 cm should be maintained.

Uses:

• In bucket culture
• As a solitaire in the bed; only in mild locations and with winter protection 
• As a hedge plant; only in mild locations and with winter protection
• Can be formed as a trunk
• Cultivated as a bonsai

Loropetalum chinense: The most important care measures

There is not too much to consider when caring for the belt flower. The water requirement of the plant is low to medium: the soil should always be well moist, but the shrub also tolerates dry periods. As far as fertilization is concerned, the flowering shrubs should be supported at least once in spring with a fertilizer for flowering shrubs. It is best to use a slow-release fertilizer that releases its nutrients gradually and supplies the roots continuously. Our Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer for example, is ideal for plants that prefer acidic soil and has a long-lasting effect of at least three months. In addition, it is recommended for tub culture to replace the soil with fresh substrate about every two years in spring. A pruning measure is almost never necessary due to the strongly branched, bushy growth. But if, for example, a spherical shape is desired, the topiary can be carried out in early spring.

Tip: The strap flower as a flowering bonsai
The strap flower can even be cultivated as a bonsai in small pots. In order for the typical growth form to be achieved, the branches, shoots and roots must be cut back regularly. This is done approximately every six to eight weeks from May to September. The so-called wiring, in which the branches are spirally wrapped with aluminum wire, is another way of shaping the plant. The repotting, which is also accompanied by the root cut, takes place about every two years in spring. It is important that a more permeable substrate is mixed in with the bonsai culture. For example, use our acidic soil mixed with 40% granite chips. Otherwise, waterlogging will quickly occur in the narrow bonsai pots.

Is the strap bloom hardy?

Loropetalum chinense tolerates only a few minus degrees and is sensitive to frost. It should therefore be overwintered in a frost-free location. However, as long as the temperature only drops to -3 °C for a short time, the belt flower can withstand the cold. Temperatures of 8 to 12 °C should be maintained during the winter. Watering should not be avoided during this time, but the amount of water can be greatly reduced.

Is the strap flower poisonous?

The toxicity of Loropetalum chinense has hardly been investigated so far. Because it belongs to the Hamamelidaceae family, however, consumption can trigger – mostly harmless – heart palpitations. In principle, we advise against consuming ornamental plants as long as they are not labeled as safe crops or medicinal plants. Therefore, measures should be taken to discourage children and pets from eating plant parts.

If you now feel like bringing even more color into your garden, then we have the right suggestions here: In our special article we present you Shrubs and trees with intense autumn colors in front.