Purple Pixie® Loropetalum - 3 Gallon

Purple Pixie® Loropetalum - Dwarf Evergreen Flowering Shrub | 2-3 ft, Individual Plant

Create year-round color impact with stunning purple foliage and delicate pink flowers in an incredibly compact package perfect for small spaces. The Purple Pixie® Loropetalum is a dwarf, mounding evergreen shrub with distinctive deep purple to burgundy leaves and clusters of fragrant, ribbon-like pink flowers that bloom multiple times throughout the year. This exceptional dwarf Chinese fringe flower has become the top choice for gardeners seeking dramatic color and extended blooming in compact spaces with heat tolerance and low maintenance requirements. With its perfect 2-3 foot mature size and incredible purple foliage color, the Purple Pixie® creates vibrant focal points while providing consistent evergreen structure and repeated flowering cycles from spring through fall. The small, oval leaves emerge deep burgundy-purple and maintain rich color year-round, creating beautiful contrast against the delicate pink blooms that appear in stunning profusion during peak flowering periods. Unlike larger loropetalums that can overwhelm small gardens, this compact variety provides all the dramatic color and fragrant blooms that actually intensifies with maturity, developing richer purple tones and more prolific flowering over time.

Why You'll Love the Purple Pixie® Loropetalum

Stunning Purple Foliage: Deep burgundy-purple leaves provide dramatic year-round color that intensifies in cooler weather, creating bold contrast and sophisticated appeal that brightens landscapes where few plants offer such vibrant evergreen foliage.

Perfect Dwarf Size: Reaching only 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide at maturity with slow to moderate growth rate, making it ideal for small gardens, foundation plantings, container gardens, and borders where traditional shrubs would be too large.

Extended Blooming Season: Produces multiple waves of fragrant, ribbon-like pink flowers from early spring through fall, with heaviest blooming in spring and repeat cycles throughout the growing season, providing months of color and sweet fragrance.

Exceptional Heat Tolerance: A reliable landscaping choice due to its outstanding heat and humidity tolerance, drought resistance once established, deer resistance, and ability to maintain purple foliage color - perfect for southern gardeners wanting colorful, low-maintenance evergreen shrubs.

Purple Pixie® Loropetalum Details

• Botanical Name: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'PIILC-I' Purple Pixie®
• Type: Dwarf evergreen flowering shrub
• Mature Size: 2–3 ft tall × 3–4 ft wide
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate — 4–8 inches per year
• Light: Full sun to partial shade (full sun for best color)
• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic; adaptable to various soil types
• Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7, 8, 9, 10

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Purple Pixie® Loropetalums prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.5) but adapt well to various soil types including clay and sandy soils with organic matter amendments. However, they perform best with consistent moisture and cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions or extremely alkaline soils.

Light Requirements: Performs best in full sun where purple foliage color is most intense and flowering is most prolific. Tolerates partial shade but may develop more green tones in the foliage and reduced flowering in lower light conditions.

Hardiness: USDA zones 7-10, making it ideal for southern and mild climate regions with excellent heat and humidity tolerance. May experience some cold damage below 10°F but typically recovers well from minor freeze damage.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish deep roots. Once established, shows good drought tolerance but performs best with consistent moisture during hot summer periods and blooming cycles. Water at soil level to avoid wetting foliage.

Pruning: Light pruning after main spring blooming to maintain desired shape and encourage additional flower cycles. Responds well to pruning and can be maintained as a compact specimen. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to promote good air circulation.

Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants in early spring. Add a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and gradually acidify soil as it decomposes.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Purple Pixie® Loropetalum's versatility makes it suitable for: foundation plantings, mixed borders, container gardens, mass plantings, rock gardens, specimen plantings, low hedges, and as colorful accents in both formal and informal landscape designs.

Small Space Excellence: The compact mature size and year-round purple color make Purple Pixie® ideal for small gardens, tight spaces, and container applications where it provides maximum color impact without overwhelming the area, perfect for modern residential landscapes with limited space.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much sun does Purple Pixie® Loropetalum need for the best purple color? Purple Pixie® develops its most intense burgundy-purple foliage color in full sun (6+ hours daily). While it tolerates partial shade, the foliage may appear more green-purple in lower light conditions, though flowering and overall health remain good.

When and how often does Purple Pixie® Loropetalum bloom? Purple Pixie® produces its heaviest bloom display in early spring (March-April) with fragrant pink flowers, followed by lighter repeat blooming cycles throughout spring and summer, and often a second major flush in fall, providing extended seasonal interest.

Is Purple Pixie® Loropetalum deer resistant and suitable for containers? Yes, Purple Pixie® is naturally deer resistant and excellent for container growing due to its compact size and slow growth rate. Use a large container (minimum 18-inch diameter) with well-draining potting mix for best results.