What's Pink and Green in the November Garden?

Our crazy Loropetalum! Several years ago we planted six loropetalum bushes - very small ones. The plan was to use them as fill-ins with a bit of early spring color as a bonus. Well, all six have been transplanted at least once as we looked for a good spot for them. Two of them are now in a bed on the east side of the house and they are huge! One is over 15 feet and is eye-level with our bathroom window (which is upstairs!). It blooms several times during the year and we will probably have to remove it next spring as it is just too big - we can't prune it often enough to keep it under control.

The remaining ones are planted in a different bed and are a normal size . . . we think there's something strange about the soil where the giant ones are planted because there's also a lantana there that's almost 6 feet high (it's about 6 years old). We never fertilize or amend the soil - it's a kind of 'Little Shop of Horrors' area . . .

But, if you're looking for a carefree bloomer, this is it. The picture above was taken this afternoon - November 21! It is full of blooms, and you can really see how it gets the nickname 'fringe flower' and why it's a favorite of gardeners in this area. It's hardy in Zones 7 to 10, so give it a try if you're looking for great color (perhaps in three seasons). Enjoy your weekend!