Purple Pixie - Loropetalum chinese 'Peack' (post from Portmarnock Garden)

 A weeping ground cover with rich purple foliage.  Purple Pixie boasts showy pink ribbons of flowers in spring that compliment its foliage nicely.  This is a cold hardy, drought and humidity tolerant plant.
Size 30-50cm tall x 1.2 - 1.5m wide.
Full sun to part shade.  Purple Pixie handles clay, loam or sandy soils.
Fertilise in early spring.
Prune after flowering in spring.
Pruning every 2-3 years will kepp Purple Pixie below 30cm
visit www.ozbreed.com.au for more information.

29-4-18

 Really liked the look of the foliage on this plant when we came across it at Manawee nursery, since purchasing it in April '18 it has put on a couple of inches on the branches and come into flower.  

We chose to pot it into a bowl shaped plastic pot to go on a plant stand on the back patio, being plastic on a stand plastic is safer and will not dry out like terracotta.  The bowl shape may not be such a good idea as the shallow depth around the edges makes it a challenge for any other plants.  The unknow leafy green thing is just an experiment.

The plant will have to be potted up as it grows. 

18-8-18

 BLACK FLYING INSECTS

18th August '18, noticed tiny black flying insects around the plant.  Lightly sprayed it with white oil, (home made)  Seems to have killed the bugs but also killed the flowers, however there are lots of buds so not too distraught.

STILL WITH THE BLACK FLYING INSECTS
20-8-18.  More insects, quite the little cloud, only around this plant.  Taking a bit of 'advice' from a gardeners blog I just used a household flying insect spray to spray around, not directly onto, the plant.
Left it sit for 30-40mins then sprayed with water to wash off any insecticide residue....checked it at sundown and all looks good, no leaf damage and no insects.  Holding my breath till tomorrow, hopefully no damage.

Found this link to a native alternative: http://www.australianplantsonline.com.au/breynia-cernua-ironstone-range.html


 Breynia 'Ironstone Range'
Native shrub with deep burgundy-red foliage on cascading branches. Suited to accent planting screening and hedging when clipped. Use as a native alternative to Loropetalum "China Pink'.

20-10-18
Insects have moved on, plant is healthy and growing well. Branches are not starting to hang over edge of pot and little experiment (green leafy thingie - still have not found out what this plant is)...little experiment is forming roots and sending out new leaves, colour is a nice foil agains the dark red leaves of the Loropetalum.