Plant Library

Other Names:  Looking Glass Plant

Description:

Emerging green foliage becomes flushed with orange and red as the season progresses, with most intense color in the winter months; an extraordinary variety perfect for shaping into topiaries or hedges; visually stunning

Ornamental Features

County Park Red Mirror Bush has attractive dark red foliage with hints of orange which emerges light green in spring on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The small glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark red throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

County Park Red Mirror Bush is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

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

County Park Red Mirror Bush is recommended for the following landscape applications;

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

Planting & Growing

County Park Red 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. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

County Park Red 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.