Cerise Charm™ Loropetalum – 3 Gallon

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Cerise Charm’

Add rich, dramatic color to the landscape with Cerise Charm™ Loropetalum, a compact evergreen shrub known for its deep burgundy-purple foliage and bright pink fringe-like flowers.

This is an excellent choice for homeowners who want year-round foliage color, a manageable mature size, and dependable Southern performance. Cerise Charm works beautifully in foundation beds, mixed borders, low hedges, mass plantings, and as a colorful contrast against green shrubs.

Plant at a Glance

Botanical Name: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Cerise Charm’
Common Name: Cerise Charm™ Loropetalum
Container Size: 3 Gallon
Plant Type: Flowering ornamental shrub
Annual or Perennial: Perennial
Evergreen or Deciduous: Evergreen to semi-evergreen, depending on winter severity
USDA Hardiness Zones: Generally 7–9
Mature Height: Approximately 3–4 feet tall
Mature Width: Approximately 3–4 feet wide
Growth Habit: Compact, rounded and dense
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
Water Needs: Moderate while establishing; lower once established
Foliage: Deep burgundy to purple
Flowers: Yes
Bloom Season: Primarily late winter through spring, with possible lighter reblooming during the growing season
Flower Color: Bright cerise-pink to magenta
Primary Feature: Rich purple foliage with vivid pink flowers

Why We Love Cerise Charm

Cerise Charm gives a landscape color even when it is not in bloom.

The dark burgundy foliage creates beautiful contrast against:

Bright green evergreens
Chartreuse grasses
White flowering shrubs
Hydrangeas
Cream and pale pink flowers

Its more compact size also makes it much easier to use near a home than many older loropetalum varieties that can quickly become very large.

Sunlight Requirements

Plant Cerise Charm in:

Full sun to part shade

For the richest purple foliage and heaviest flowering, provide approximately 5–6 or more hours of sunlight per day.

Plants grown in heavier shade may develop greener foliage and produce fewer flowers.

Wright’s Market Recommendation

In southeast Georgia, Cerise Charm can perform beautifully in full sun when properly watered.

A location with morning sun and some afternoon protection can also be helpful in very hot, reflected-heat areas.

Watering

Immediately After Planting

Water deeply after planting to thoroughly moisten the root ball and surrounding soil.

First Growing Season

Water approximately 1–2 times per week, adjusting for rainfall, soil type, and temperature.

During extreme summer heat, newly planted 3-gallon shrubs may require additional water.

Once Established

Loropetalum becomes relatively drought tolerant once established.

Water deeply during prolonged dry periods rather than giving frequent shallow watering.

Avoid keeping the soil constantly saturated.

Fertilization

Fertilize in early spring as new growth begins.

Use a balanced, slow-release shrub fertilizer or a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants according to package directions.

A second light feeding may be made in early summer if the plant appears to need it.

Avoid overfertilizing, which can encourage excessive growth at the expense of the plant's naturally compact form.

Planting Instructions

1. Water the plant thoroughly before planting.
2. Choose a location with full sun to part shade.
3. Dig a hole approximately twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper.
4. Carefully remove the plant from its 3-gallon container.
5. Gently loosen tightly circling roots.
6. Set the plant so the top of the root ball sits level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
7. Backfill using the existing soil.
8. Water deeply to settle the soil around the roots.
9. Apply approximately 1–2 inches of pine straw or mulch.
10. Keep mulch pulled slightly away from the main stems.

Soil

Cerise Charm performs best in:

Moist, well-drained soil
Slightly acidic soil
Beds with good drainage and organic matter

It adapts to a range of Southern soils once established.

Avoid planting in low areas where water remains standing around the roots.

Pruning & Maintenance

Cerise Charm naturally develops a compact, rounded habit and usually requires light maintenance rather than heavy pruning.

Best Time to Prune

If shaping is needed, prune after the main spring bloom.

Light trimming can also be done throughout the growing season.

Avoid severe late-season pruning, which can remove developing flower buds and encourage tender new growth going into winter.

Wright’s Market Tip

For a softer, more expensive-looking landscape, avoid repeatedly shearing loropetalum into hard round balls.

Light selective pruning allows the natural branching habit and rich foliage color to show.

Does Cerise Charm Flower?

Yes.

Cerise Charm produces clusters of narrow, ribbon-like flowers in shades of bright cerise pink to magenta.

Bloom Season

The heaviest flowering usually occurs in:

Late winter through spring

Some plants may produce additional scattered blooms later in the growing season.

The vivid pink flowers stand out beautifully against the dark purple foliage.

Evergreen or Deciduous?

Cerise Charm is generally considered evergreen in warmer climates.

In southeast Georgia, it will typically retain much of its foliage throughout winter.

Following unusually cold weather, some leaf drop or foliage discoloration can occur, but new growth normally returns in spring.

Zone 9 / Coastal Georgia Performance

Loropetalum performs extremely well in the Southeast and is particularly well suited to Zone 8b/9a landscapes.

Cerise Charm handles:

• Southern heat
• High humidity
• Full sun
• Part shade
• Periods of dry weather once established

For the deepest foliage color, provide adequate sunlight.

For newly planted shrubs, consistent watering during the first growing season is the most important step toward long-term success.

Landscape Uses

Cerise Charm is beautiful used as a:

• Foundation shrub
• Low hedge
• Mass planting
• Accent shrub
• Mixed-border plant
• Entryway planting
• Color contrast plant
• Container specimen
• Layered landscape shrub
• Companion to hydrangeas and evergreens

Its compact size makes it especially useful under windows and in smaller landscape beds where larger loropetalum varieties would eventually become overwhelming.

Spacing

Allow approximately 3–4 feet of mature width.

For individual plants, space them so each shrub has room to develop naturally.

For a continuous hedge, they may be planted somewhat closer depending on how quickly you want them to fill together.

Beautiful Plant Pairings

Cerise Charm looks especially good with plants that contrast its dark foliage.

Pair it with:

Evergreen Structure
Soft Touch® Holly
Vintage Jade® Distylium
Babylon Beauty™ Boxwood
Podocarpus

Flowering Shrubs
White Encore® Azaleas
White Drift® Roses
Gardenias
Hydrangeas

Bright Foliage & Texture
Carex ‘Everillo’
Feather Falls Carex
Liriope
Asiatic Jasmine

Wright’s Market Designer Combination

Try:

Cerise Charm Loropetalum + Soft Touch Holly + white flowering shrubs + chartreuse Carex

The deep purple foliage provides contrast while the greens, whites, and soft chartreuse keep the planting fresh and balanced.

Plant Meaning & Garden Personality

Loropetalum's colorful foliage and energetic spring flowers give it a personality associated with vitality, confidence, and renewal.

It is an excellent choice when you want a traditional Southern landscape to feel a little more colorful and contemporary.

Why Wright’s Market Loves It

We love Cerise Charm™ Loropetalum because it gives you year-round foliage color without the oversized growth habit of many older loropetalum varieties.

It is:

Evergreen in our Southern climate
Compact
Colorful year-round
Spring flowering
Heat tolerant
Low maintenance once established
Easy to combine with green and white landscape plants

For customers looking for a small-to-medium shrub with big color, Cerise Charm is a beautiful option.

Wright’s Market Plant Tip

Give Cerise Charm enough sunlight to maintain its deep burgundy-purple color.

In too much shade, the foliage may become greener and flowering may decrease.

Please note: Plant height, fullness, foliage color, and bloom quantity vary depending on season and growing conditions. A 3-gallon Cerise Charm Loropetalum is a young landscape plant and will continue developing toward its mature size after planting.