Choose the right loropetalum variety

By Walter Reeves

For the AJC

Q: We want to do away with old shrubs in front of our house and replace them with several loropetalum shrubs. When should we plant them?

Enlarge photo

Walter Reeves / AJC Special Loropetalum flowers are distinctive in early spring but choosing the right variety is very important.

More Homefinder stories »

• Retirees leave beach for family, Braves
• Well-regarded school district aided in sale
• Couple transitions to house in Buckhead
• Mosquitoes can threaten sale, outdoor enjoyment
• Improved flowering pears are better than ‘Bradford''

-- David Decker, Fayetteville

A: Now is a fine time to plant, but your first step is to choose the right loropetalum variety. There are several, ranging in size from 18 inches high ('Purple Pixie') to 18 feet tall (‘Zhuzhou Fuchsia’). ‘Ruby' and ‘Purple Diamond' are probably the right size for your purpose, growing 3 to 5 feet high.

Q: When an animal dies, Buford the Buzzard comes calling. Exactly what species are around here? Where do they hang out and wait for the dinner bell?

-- Brian Luders, Lawrenceville

A: According to the Turkey Vulture Society (yes, there is one! vulturesociety.homestead.com), buzzards use an excellent sense of smell to find their food. Turkey vultures, Cathartes aura, roost in groups, usually in large trees away from humans and noisy animals. They spend most of the day soaring. In rural areas, they watch other buzzards and follow them to the ground if their friends find a delectable deceased deer in a clearing.

Q: A guy on your radio show asked about growing softball-size onions. We planted Vidalia onions several years ago, and they were a lot bigger than softballs!

-- Myrtice Hunter, Gainesville

A: I have no doubt your onions were big, but you likely started them from small “sets”: tiny bulbs that hadn’t started to grow. The radio caller had onions from last year’s garden that had sprouted, and he wondered if they would continue to get larger. I advised that his onions might get a tiny bit bigger, but he’d have better results starting with sets.

Q: My son’s Yoshino cryptomerias were planted in the fall in full sun. I also have some in my yard, planted a year ago. Mine are green, but his are getting a bronze color.

-- Kate Coombs, e-mail

A: It's common for ‘Yoshino’ cryptomeria to take on a bronze hue during winter. It seems to be worse on plants exposed to cold January wind. It will occur less as the plants get older but will still be noticeable if winter weather is severe. Fortunately, they turn green again in spring.

Q: Why are many trees I buy grafted and why do they seem to fail at the graft (break off, split open, etc.)?

-- Lisa Neal, Dewy Rose

A: Trees are commonly grafted because it takes longer (i.e. costs more) to grow them from cuttings. The graft unions are admittedly weaker than a naturally connected tree trunk, but this is not usually a problem if the tree is not in a windy spot.

Q: My mother has a ponytail plant on her back porch in Cairo. It has "babies" growing on the base. How can she start them to be separate plants?

-- Cheryl Mills, Canton

A: Ponytail palm, Beaucarnea recurvata, is not a true palm but is related to yucca and agave. It loves bright light and well-drained soil. The swollen base is used to store water. Once the round offsets at the base of the mother plant have a few leaves, they can each be gently pulled off and put into a pot of their own. They are distinctive houseplants here, but Cairo offers a long growing season that makes them especially attractive.

Listen to Walter Reeves 6-10 a.m. Saturdays on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, or join his Facebook Fan Page at xrl.us/wrfacebook for more garden tips.