Jazz Hands® Velvet Loropetalum

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

4-6 Feet

Mature Spread

4-6 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 9

Jazz Hands® Velvet Loropetalum is the rare dark-leaf shrub that keeps its burgundy-purple color through southern heat instead of fading to green by midsummer. Loropetalum chinense ‘Gekkou’ matures at roughly 3–5 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide, forming a compact, mounded evergreen that stays full from the ground up. In spring, vivid pink fringe flowers pop against the dark foliage and cover the plant heavily. We are using this loropetalum frequently as a dependable “dark foliage anchor” for warm-climate foundations.

It tolerates heat and humidity well and brings strong deer resistance for landscapes where browsing is a constant problem. The evergreen habit means it carries the design through winter, not just in bloom. Use it as a low hedge, a foundation shrub, or a repeating border plant to create a steady ribbon of dark foliage. It also works in large containers where you want year-round structure with a spring flower moment. 

Jazz Hands® Velvet Loropetalum Care

Give Jazz Hands® Velvet loropetalum full sun to part sun for the best leaf color and flowering. It performs best in moist, well-drained, acidic soil, with a target pH of about 5.0–6.5; alkaline soils can cause poor growth and color. Plant it where the root zone won’t dry out completely in summer, and use a mulch layer to moderate soil temperatures. Water consistently during establishment, then maintain even moisture during hot weather to prevent stress. Feed in spring and again in summer with a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving evergreens if growth slows or foliage lightens.

Prune only after the spring bloom if you want to shape it, since flower buds form on last year’s growth. In the cooler edge of its range, site it out of harsh winter wind and keep mulch over the root zone for added protection.

Jazz Hands® Velvet Loropetalum Spacing

Space plants 3–5 feet apart, depending on how quickly you want a hedge to fill in. For containers, start with a 20–24 inch wide pot to give the shrub enough root room and stability. Companion options that suit similar conditions include camellia (Camellia japonica), Japanese holly (Ilex), and Japanese anemone (Anemone hupehensis).

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