Loropetalums – Pruning

Q: I planted loropetalums seven years ago. I have never pruned them and they are fifteen feet tall. Can they be pruned or are they too high for pruning?

A: I’ve pruned loropetalums every which way and they came back strongly each time. Different varieties grow to different heights. For summer pruning, I follow the rule of thumb that removing 25%of the total foliage will not harm a healthy plant. If you need to take out more, remove 25% now and anything else in early March next year. Yours is a large, vigorous variety, possibly ‘Zhuzhou Fuchsia’. Keep sharp pruners handy throughout the year in the future.