2026 Garden Progress

Purple Loropetalum

Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum
The burgundy-purple shrub layer in the side-house foundation bed, grounding the Sunshine ligustrum and repeating the darker color below Shaina maple.
burgundy foliage evergreen shrub 7 photos
Burgundy purple loropetalum forming the lower layer around Sunshine ligustrum in the side-house foundation bed
August 18, 2026

August lower layer

The loropetalum has spread into a repeated burgundy foreground, giving the full-sized Sunshine ligustrum a dark base and carrying the color toward Shaina maple.

Season notes
Several mounded plants now read as one connected lower rhythm without becoming shapeless. The foliage still shows purple, red, and green variation, while the chartreuse shrub above makes those darker tones much easier to see.
Purple loropetalum in front of Sunshine ligustrum and beside variegated liriope in the side-house foundation bed
July 6, 2026

July foreground contrast

The loropetalum is holding a rich burgundy foreground beneath the bright ligustrum, with variegated liriope repeating the contrast along the edge.

Season notes
In this wider July view, the dark foliage makes the Sunshine ligustrum feel intentional rather than isolated, while also tying visually into Shaina maple on the right.
Purple loropetalum in the side-house foundation bed with Sunshine ligustrum, Shaina Japanese maple, and variegated liriope
June 24, 2026

Late-June foundation color

Purple loropetalum is the burgundy front/middle layer in this side-house view, setting off the chartreuse Sunshine ligustrum and the red Shaina maple.

Season notes
This is the clearest late-June context record for the loropetalum's role in the foundation bed: a dark foliage layer tying the bright ligustrum, brick, liriope, and maple together.
Purple loropetalum beside Sunshine ligustrum and young liriope in the side-house bed
May 14, 2026

Sunshine and burgundy contrast

The loropetalum gives the bright ligustrum a dark base, with young liriope beginning to repeat along the bed edge.

Season notes
This close view shows the pairing clearly: chartreuse above, purple foliage below, brick behind, and variegated edging starting to knit the strip together.
Purple loropetalum below Sunshine ligustrum in the side-house bed
May 10, 2026

Chartreuse corner contrast

The loropetalum is already doing its main design job: keeping the Sunshine ligustrum from floating by anchoring it with deep purple foliage.

Purple loropetalum with Sunshine ligustrum and young variegated liriope in April
April 21, 2026

Ligustrum, loropetalum, and liriope

Early structure of the side-house color block: purple loropetalum under the bright ligustrum, with fresh liriope starts marking the front rhythm.

Purple loropetalum beside Sunshine ligustrum in the side-house bed
April 16, 2026

Early side-house pairing

The April baseline for the pairing: Sunshine ligustrum lighting up the corner while the loropetalum supplies the dark counterweight.