Investigation And Analysis Of The Landscape Application Present Situation Of Loropetalum In Hunan Province

The flowers of Loropetalum chinense are as thick as falling snow when they blossom and Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum has red-colored leaves and bright-colored flowers. Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum is a color-leafed plant which is precious in the modern gardens and also praised as ’the panda in plants’. Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum has been widely used in landscape construction due to its unique ornamental features, strong adaptability and excellent resistance. However, there are still some problems in applying Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum in landscaping, including:lack of diversity in applying styles, lack of science in selecting species, lack of rationality in plant arrangement and lack of effort in both resource protection and researches on new species. Aiming at those problems, the author of this paper has carried out investigations and researches in the following areas as the main survey points—Changsha, Yueyang, Chenzhou, Loudi and Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture. The results are as following:(1) In Hunan, the existing Loropetalum R. Br is mainly Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum and Loropetalum chinense. No Loropetalum chinense Lanceum and Loropetalum subcapitatum is found within the survey areas. Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum and Loropetalum chinense have many variant types or species with different leaf shapes, leaf colors, flower colors and flower shapes. The application of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum is very common while that of Loropetalum chinense is relatively rare in landscape greening, which is mainly used as grafting parental stocks in bonsai or miniature gardening.(2) The applying styles of Loropetalum R. Br in landscaping lack diversity. To be specific, the applying style of mass planting, which embodies large-area dense cultivation as color belts as well as patterned flower beds, accounts for about40percent of all the applying styles. Using shrub balls, natural style or tree figures to build scenery, the applying styles of isolated planting, opposite planting and linear planting account for about35percent of all the applying styles. The applying style of hedge accounts for about15%while forest planting, multiple planting and group planting are not so frequently applied.(3) The application of Loropetalum R. Br in landscaping lacks science and artistic element. It shows in two aspects. One is that most plant arranging forms lack science, for example, Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum is planted under thick groups of camphor trees, Elaeocarpus sylvestris (Lour.) Poir or other evergreen arbors that its flowers and leaf color are highly affected, unable to present its best scenic looks. The other is that concrete applying styles appear stiff and monotonous, lacking artistic influence, for example, there are more short hedges rather than high hedges when it comes to applying hedges.(4) This paper gives suggestions on fully discovering and scientifically and properly utilizing the resources of Loropetalum chinense plants, strengthening the landscape styles of Loropetalum chinense and the research of its landscape art, thoroughly using and showcasing the superb qualities of its species, accelerating the efficient combination of the science and art in landscaping, intensifying the propaganda and landscape management, etc.(5) The author has thoroughly analyzed and discussed the cultural meaning and landscape beauty elements of Loropetalum R. Br plants, laying out some modes of optimizing in landscape application, regarding mass planting, isolated planting, coupled planting, linear planting, hedge, natural styles, the matching of Loropetalum chinense and other plants as well as small garden ornaments, stone layout, water body and garden paths.