If I posted this in the wrong category let me know.
Several years ago I planted some loropetalum without knowing what variety they were. They were hardy plants but they grew so fast you could prune them one day and they would need it again in a week (exaggeration). Later I found out that they come in several mature sizes and I settled on the Purple Daydream and after four years experience these were a good size for me. Mature sizes is about 3’ high x 4’ wide. Ordered these three a few days ago and they shipped to me in good condition. Two gallon plants for about $20 each which included shipping. Now I need to get the planting holes dug.
Loropetalum is my most frequent plant to suggest to my customers when they are looking for an evergreen bush to grow a privacy screen in their yard. I think it likely that it is on a weekly basis that I’ll mention it to someone. It is also effective at keeping people from wanting to force their way through the hedge, something with which an anise bush (second in my suggestions for an evergreen bush) isn’t anywhere near as effective.
As you mentioned there are varieties which mature at various heights. One that I observed while out on a walk yesterday afternoon was fourteen feet in height if it was one. When properly selected for the intended mature size they also lend themselves fairly well to a topiary-like trim, unlike the anise that I routinely (and some other evergreen bushes that I will occasionally) suggest for customers to plant. The anise does win out in three categories: I have observed it grow to a greater ultimate height, the leaves don’t cling to your clothing anywhere near as tenaciously as the loropetalum, and the smell of the leaves is delicious. I place it as one of my top four best scented things to feed through the wood chipper!
My orchard cat is getting a little older and he likes to sleep under the loropetalum bushes. The leaves stick to his hair and they end up in the house. I’m not a landscaper and don’t anything about the anise but it looks to me like it could be used to make the loropetalum stand out.
I tend to go for hardy plants to use around my house that look good year round and are hardy after the first year. The slow growing small leaf hollies are another one that I like to use.
