Most of them can be that large growing given time and opportunity (suitable climate and site). Otherwise about 5-6 ft. is probably what should be planned for, with something else being used to get a 10 ft. height within a reasonable period of time.

Sara made a good suggestion. What about the native fringe tree? Not sure if it would do well in your climate.

Does Ever Red ever get taller than 6 feet?

I'm sure it can with time, but is probably slower than others. And it may be wider than tall. I'll never know as mine died out from the cold. Ever Red is a neat variety.

Loropetalums are really common here, the most dieback I see is the tips of the branches turning brown. This is usually only on the flat-topped hedges.

Love the ever red's, stay dark red all summer, and grow a bit slower. Just a better looking shrub than the standard sizzling pink variety.

Thanks all.

Im dying to find a place for an Ever Red in my yard. I also love Jazz Hands Varigated. I think I'm kind of obsessed with Lorepetalum these days. Lol!!!!

Loropetalum is one of my favorites are well. I planted 4 'purple diamond' this year.

I know, you've told me that. I'm still waiting on the pics you promised.

They aren't looking so great, but I will see what I can dig up from the computer:

(above) in partial shade (about 6hrs of sunlight). Doing great except for some bacterial leaf spot.This one (above) was planted about a month ago. It gets full sun, had some transplant shock. I got 4 at walmart for $3 each but these are the only pics I have.

A S, I love the Ever Red, too, and hope to get some one of these days. :)

I have four Fringes, iirc, they're "Plum Delight" ... planted 12 yrs ago. I lost a fifth one last year, no idea why.

Let us know what you decide!

I am going to keep mine formally pruned after they grow to the desired size. There are many beautiful cultivars, one of the most useful and tolerant shrubs.

Miz, your Loropetalum look really nice against those greens. Do you know what those other shrubs are in the top picture???

Oh, and as far as what I decided for this...to order more of the same Loropetalum, then flank the ends of the row with another kind of Pittosporum (a different variety than the black stem Pittosporum trees in the center)....Pirouette. It's pretty. Love it's light color.

Thanks, A S .... the back shrubs in that pic are Pittosporum tobira 'Variegatum', and the small green front shrub is a dwarf Yaupon Holly.

The Trouble with Triffles

Formal shearing of informally arranged shrubs produces a visual inconsistency. In that last shot for instance presumably multiple different kinds were planted in an informal arrangement to generate interest through an appearance of variety and movement having been created. Yet all have been sheared to have the same tight rounded shape, resulting in homogeneity.

Shearing trees and shrubs is okay for hedges and real topiary, but wrong in most landscape situations

http://www.plantamnesty.org/don-t-shear

Thanks for the rude and bizarre criticism, and stroking your ego at my expense, Embothrium. How nice of you to share your opinion -- with a link found, bonus points! -- that my landscaping is ugly and wrong. Especially, you know, since I didn't ask, and it's not the topic here.

I posted so A S could see the colors of my shrubs together, not as suggesting or encouraging any kind of pruning. I also stated that I had just done some trimming ... as is common with these specific shrubs ... although nothing is or ever was "sheared to have the same tight rounded shape". How ridiculous.

A S, you saw my pics, so I'm going to delete them now.

Miz, I loved it against the Pittosporum Tobira. I hope the coloring of yours is similar enough to my Pirouette. They're next to each other and hope for some pretty contrast. :)

Thanks, A S. I've enjoyed chatting with you, and am looking forward to seeing how it turns out. :)