Loropetalum chinense is commonly known as the Chinese fringe flower. Two forms of L. chinense exist; a white- (to pale-yellow-) flowering green-leafed variety and a pink-flowering variety with leaves varying from bronze-red when new to olive-green or burgundy when mature, depending on selection and growing conditions.

They are evergreen

Evergreen

In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...

 with branches forming horizontal layers. The leaves

Leaf

A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....

 are alternately arranged, ovate up to 5 cm long by 3.5 cm wide, and have a slightly abrasive feel.

Cultivation and uses

L. chinense grows best in fertile, slightly acidic soil in full sun for deepest foliage colour and is hardy down to -3 deg. It is a popular ornamental plant

Ornamental plant

Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...

, grown for its prolific clusters of flowers and (in the case of the pink flowering variety) deeply coloured foliage that may contain various green, copper, purple and red tones.