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Thoughts on moving an Ever Red Fringe Flower

Jason, zone 7A, near Greensboro NC

last year

I planted these Ever Red Fringe Flower near the house, and then Sunshine Ligustrum in between and in front of them. But I think that one of those Fringe Flowers are getting too much shade from the Ligustrum, so it's smaller and nowhere near as lush as the others:

There are actually 3 Fringe Flower and 2 Ligustrum, I just focused the pic on the Fringe Flower that's wimpier.

I'd like your thoughts on:

1. pruning the Ligustrum by about 12" right now and then planting the cuttings elsewhere in the yard; and

2. digging up the Fringe Flower and moving it a few feet to the right (East) of the current location.

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Comments (6)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
I would remove the Ligustrum altogether and put it somewhere else where it has the space it needs.
Jason, zone 7A, near Greensboro NC
Original Author
last year
I think that my pictures might be a little misleading, because everyone that visits LOVES the combination of Fringe and Ligustrum! LOL I have them spaced out enough that they should touch just a little when they're all grown up, although I'll probably prune the Ligustrum every year to keep it a little shorter than the Fringe.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
But I think that one of those Fringe Flowers are getting too much shade from the Ligustrum

==>> not by a long shot.. they are cating their own shade.. so they are getting enough sun ..

the problem is.. they are plant 3 to 5 feet too close to the hosue.. and 3 to 4 feet too close to each other ...

imo... only one of those plants should be taking the space given to all 3 ...

your choice which to move ...

ken

ps:.. you also said: I have them spaced out enough that they should touch just a little when they're all grown up,

no... they can each to 3 to 5 feet shrubs very easily.. this is how to look at mature plants.. just keep scrolling for a flavor of such ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=Ever+Red+Fringe+Flower&iax=images&ia=images

i see one pic of it at least 8 feet wide... and one over the eaves of the house ... move them all ... and plant them according to there vast future potential ....
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
last year
Plant tags tend to give plant sizes at about 5 years, so I agree with the others that your plants look spaced too close to each other and the building. It will be easier to move them now rather than waiting until they reach a larger size. For instance, I would expect your Ligustrum aka privet to get to at least 6’-7’ in all directions, and you want the plant to end up a minimum of 2’ from the house to allow air circulation. The Loropetalum aka Ever Red fringe flower is supposed to reach at least that size. Pruning if done at the wrong time of year can remove flower buds, and trying to keep those plants to about half their expected size via pruning will be a fair amount of work and may leave you with plants that don’t look their best.
sam_md
last year

Hi Jason,

Here is what your Loropetalum could look like. Give them plenty of space, keep away from windows.
Jason, zone 7A, near Greensboro NC
Original Author
last year
I guess I made the mistake of trusting Google >:-( Southern Living said to expect 3-6' from the Sunshine Ligustrum:

https://southernlivingplants.com/plan-your-garden/5-uses-for-sunshine-ligustrum/

and the Ever Red Fringe Flower said 4-6':

https://www.plantingtree.com/products/ever-red-loropetalum

I really wanted a nice backdrop color to go behind the flowers, and the red and yellow really worked well together!

Spreading them out in this area really isn't possible, it would take up the WHOLE garden and would just look bare for several years. And I have a ton of other flowers that I'd have to relocate. My only option would be to dig them all up and find a new home somewhere else... easier said than done! And then I'd need to buy something else to go in their place.

Sigh.

This used to be a fun hobby, now it's just overwhelming and I swear that NOTHING turns out the way I had envisioned.

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