Root Rot

• When loropetalum is planted in soggy soils or in areas with poor drainage, the constant moisture next to the root will suffocate the roots and invite root rot caused by the fungus Fusarium. Some symptoms include yellowing of the leaves and necrotic spotting, or spots where the leaf dies. These spots may be brown or black.
  
  

Acidic Soils and Toxicity

• Loropetalums do well in moderately acidic to neutral soils. When they are in very acidic soils, such as those with a pH of 4 or less, they absorb toxic amounts of trace minerals that they would otherwise absorb in moderation. If these trace elements are especially abundant in the soil already, this will only exacerbate the problem. There are as many symptoms of toxicity as there are minerals in the soil, but yellowing of the leaves followed by necrosis in some areas is a common symptom of many toxicities.
  
  

Solutions

• Planting loropetalums in well-draining soil with amendments that neutralize the pH of the soil is a good start. Compost is a useful amendment, since it encourages good drainage in clay soils and neutralizes pH. Rain and garden water may be acidic, so amendments may need to be applied yearly to keep soil pH in check.
  
  

Considerations

• Loropetalum is still a relatively new landscape plant, although its popularity is growing quickly, and, as such, new cultivars are appearing on the market regularly. New varieties of loropetalum bring along new disease problems that should be brought to a local extension service for identification and treatment options.