Plant Library

Other Names:  Looking Glass Plant

Brand:  Ball

Description:

This variegated shrub features a rainbow of foliage colors; bright yellow-green new foliage quickly matures to plum-rose, with subtle orange highlights; deep burgundy-red fall color; great for shrub or mixed borders, containers, or framing garden features

Ornamental Features

Plum Hussey Mirror Bush is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has attractive rose-variegated plum purple foliage with hints of orange which emerges light green in spring. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding antique red in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Plum Hussey Mirror Bush is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Plum Hussey Mirror Bush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Plum Hussey Mirror Bush will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Plum Hussey Mirror Bush makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.