Two popular shrubs can have burgundy leaves and pink flowers: loropetalum, an evergreen warm-climate option, and ‘Summer Wine’ ninebark, a cold-hardy deciduous choice.
If you’ve been searching for a shrub with burgundy leaves and pink flowers, you’ve likely seen pictures of a striking plant with deep purple-red foliage and frilly pink blossoms. The one most often filling those photos is loropetalum, also called Chinese fringe flower. But it’s not the only match, and picking the right one depends almost entirely on your climate. Here’s how to tell them apart and choose.
The Usual Suspect: Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Flower)
The shrub you’re most likely picturing is loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum). University of Florida’s IFAS Extension confirms this is the loropetalum type most often seen in landscapes, prized for its attractive burgundy foliage and pink flowers. The blooms are tiny, fringe-like clusters in bright pink, with the heaviest show in spring and sporadic blooms continuing through the year.
Popular cultivars include:
- ‘Plum Delight™’: dark pink flowers with rose-purple leaves
- ‘Sizzlin’ Pink’: deep burgundy new growth
- ‘Ever Red™’: dark burgundy foliage and the reddest flowers of the variety
This is a true evergreen, so it holds its burgundy color through the winter in suitable climates. The ‘Burgundy’ cultivar grows to roughly 1.5–1.8 m tall and 1.2–1.5 m wide, though South Florida Plant Guide notes it can be kept at about 4–5 feet tall by 4 feet wide with pruning.
The Cold-Climate Alternative: ‘Summer Wine’ Ninebark
If you live outside loropetalum’s warm range, your burgundy-and-pink shrub is likely ‘Summer Wine’ ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius). Fine Gardening describes it with the same burgundy leaves and pink flowers, but it’s a different genus entirely. It’s deciduous, meaning it drops its leaves each fall, and it’s far more cold-hardy, thriving in USDA Zones 3 through 7.
At 3 to 6 feet tall and wide, it’s comparable in size to loropetalum. Its pink flowers appear in early summer, a slightly later show than loropetalum’s spring bloom. The leaf color holds well in full sun to partial shade, and it tolerates dry to medium moisture with moderate maintenance.
Which One Grows In Your Zone?
The single biggest difference between these two shrubs is hardiness. Loropetalum is a warm-climate plant; South Florida Plant Guide recommends it for Zone 9B and the cooler parts of Zone 10A.
| Detail | Loropetalum | ‘Summer Wine’ Ninebark |
|---|---|---|
| USDA Zones | 9B–10A (warm only) | 3–7 (cold-hardy) |
| Foliage | Evergreen burgundy | Deciduous burgundy |
| Bloom Time | Heaviest in spring, on and off all year | Early summer |
| Mature Size | 4–6 ft tall, similar width | 3–6 ft tall and wide |
| Sun Needs | Full sun to partial shade | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Well-drained, slightly acidic | Dry to medium moisture, well-drained |
Both plants want full sun for the deepest color. University of Florida’s Panhandle extension notes that burgundy-leaved shrubs are brightest with at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Too much shade and you’ll get greenish-muddy leaves instead of rich burgundy, no matter which plant you choose.
The Key Differences You Should Know
Mistaking one for the other leads to dead plants. Here’s the quick breakdown:
- Evergreen vs. deciduous: Loropetalum keeps its leaves year-round; ninebark loses them in fall.
- Hardiness: Loropetalum is for warm climates only; ninebark survives Zone 3 winters.
- Flower form: Loropetalum’s blooms are thin, frilly fringe-like straps; ninebark’s are rounder clusters.
- Not all loropetalums are burgundy: The species can have green foliage and white flowers. The burgundy-pink look is specifically var. rubrum.
If you’re in a warm zone and want year-round color, loropetalum is your plant. If you’re in a cold climate, ‘Summer Wine’ ninebark gives you the same burgundy-and-pink effect but survives the freeze. For more options suited to your region, check out our roundup of the best burgundy-leaf shrubs — it covers both warm- and cold-climate picks with full details.
FAQs
Is loropetalum the same as ninebark?
No. Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum) and ‘Summer Wine’ ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) are different genera entirely. They simply share a similar burgundy-leaf, pink-flower appearance. Ninebark is deciduous and hardy to Zone 3; loropetalum is evergreen and suited to warm climates like Zones 9B–10A.
Why is my burgundy shrub turning green?
Insufficient sunlight is the usual cause. Burgundy-leaved shrubs like loropetalum need at least 6 hours of direct sun daily to keep their deepest color. In partial shade, new growth and older leaves can shift toward green as chlorophyll production increases. Moving the plant or trimming back shade-casting branches usually restores the color.
How big does a burgundy loropetalum get?
Most cultivars reach about 1.5–1.8 meters (5–6 feet) tall and about 1.2–1.5 meters (4–5 feet) wide at maturity, though the ‘Burgundy’ cultivar is often similar. With regular pruning, you can keep it smaller around 4–5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Full sun and well-drained soil give the best growth and color.
References & Sources
- UF/IFAS Extension. “Loropetalum.” Identifies var. rubrum as the burgundy-pink landscape form and lists common cultivars.
- RHS. “Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Burgundy’.” Provides an official reference for a burgundy-leaved shrub in a different genus.
- University of Washington Miller Library. “Purple-Leafed Shrubs.” Useful general reference on shrubs with burgundy and purple foliage.