Loropetalum (Black Pearl)

[MartinGilmour]

Hi all

Bought this on a whim in local garden centre. Does it stand a chance over-wintering outside without protection? I'm in Kent, UK.

Or is it less hardy than the label suggests (it says hardy, RHS seem to suggest -5 at lowest)? Or indeed, hardier and nothing to worry about in southern UK?

Any experience welcomed

Thanks

Martin

[MartinNicklin]

Lost both of mine last winter. Sheltered but uncovered, with lows down to about -10°C. Im seeing lots of plants being sold as supposedly hardy when theyre actually borderline. The most annoying is Phoenix canariensis which most definitely is not hardy in many parts of the UK.

[David F]

It’s hardy to those lows with more summer heat as in the southeastern USA where it’s widely planted. They can get to be small trees here in California.

[Chad]

It needs an acid soil too.

Is Whitstable far enough off the chalk?

Chad

[MartinNicklin]

Ah … that could be why I lost mine. They were not planted in ericaceous soil and the label didn’t instruct them to be!!! :x :x

[MartinGilmour]

Thanks Chad. In a pot at moment so will try and keep pH on the acid side. Yes, we aren’t really chalky here in Whitstable. London clay mostly