Need full sun large purple red leaf shrub for clay soil

Does anyone have any suggestions for a large shrub (maybe about 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide or something like that, I'm flexibe on size) with purplish red leaves that can tolerate full sun and clay soil? I don't want a barberry because of the thorns. I'm not crazy about lorepatolums or purple leaf sand cherry bushes. Thought there might be something I don't know about. I'm in zone 7. Thanks for any suggestions.

How about Cotinus coggygria? There are a couple cultivars with purplish leaves http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=cotinus&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=coggygria&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search I think they can get bigger than 6 feet, but you can prune them to keep them smaller (although you may lose some of the "smoke" blooms if you prune too much.

Thanks for the suggestion. I am seriously considering the smoke tree now, probably the Royal Purple or Grace culitvars. Anyone have advice on which of these is more striking, as far as color? I will probably need to prune them eventually because of the width of the space, but from what I've read online, you can cut them down to the ground in the winter and then the new growth is vivid colored foliage, although no blooms which is okay with me, I mainly want a purpleor red leaf large shrub or small tree.

They're both striking, it really depends on what color you're looking for--Royal Purple is a pretty dark burgundy/purplish color, while Grace is lighter colored more reddish/pinkish. Pruning them back hard is the best way to get good color because the younger shoots have more intense color, so if you want the color and don't mind losing blooms that's the way to go.

I have a shrub in my landscape that has small purple leaves and gets pink blooms on it a couple of times a year. It can be left alone and allowed to grow pretty big or pruned to keep it in bounds. The only name I know it by is Fringe plant. It is fairly common in landscapes in my area. Can anyone help with a name from my description? It does well in sun or filtered sun. Mine is under tall oaks and pines.

It may be lorapetulum - the flowers have a 'fringe' and it fits your description. It looks great in more shade than sun too --and it blooms.

'Black Lace' Elderberry (Sambucus nigra 'Eva') - likes full sun and is beautiful. May be too tall but I think is slow growing and you may be able to prune. Take a look at it.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward' SUMMER WINE (ninebark) I have heard these are great.

I have weigela growing now and the leaves are a deep red/purple. It blooms. My only complaint (not sure if it is just my garden) is that after the winter - I have to trim it quite a bit because some of the stems die back. But it grows back in a few weeks it seems and looks really healthy. By the way - I am in zone 7 also and have clay soil.

Yes, it is lorapetalum, Chinese Fringe flower, Chines Witch Hazel flower. Check out the photos. I think you will like it and it is very easy to grow.

I've had good luck with purple sand cherry.
Chris

jhart mentioned in the first post not being crazy about Loropetalum and purple leaf sand cherries...any other ideas? :-)

I don't know how I missed that tidbit of info. when I read the entry. Guess I just looked at the heading. It's back to the drawing board for me!
Chris

Looks like a japanese maple ---but can take the sun and keep its color!

http://z.about.com/d/gardening/1/7/4/H/Sam_nigraBlackLace.jpg

Rosie--does the 'Black Lace' keep its color well in your climate? I seem to remember that 'Black Beauty' tends to spend a lot of time looking green in warm humid climates, but I wasn't sure if that was true for 'Black Lace' as well.

Black Beauty seems to fade according to some posts. But Black Lace -even in full sun - keeps its color. Flowers beautifully (fragrant) can be cut back to 6 feet x 6 feet according to some sites. And can tolerate the cold very well as well as the heat and humidity. Here is a photo with the flowers as well as a close up of the leaves.


http://gardening.about.com/library/bl_SamBlackLace.htmact.

This message was edited May 6, 2008 7:54 PM

This message was edited May 6, 2008 7:54 PM

Opps. I always forget that I can't get these links to pop up right. Is there some rule or something improper about sending a link with a photo via DavesGarden? --- it does credit the photo to the site.

Anyway, if you want to see the photo via the link above ...then click on the searcg plants area...choose "S" for sambucus and you will probably pull up the sambucus nigra... then there will be a hyperlink in that short description for the Black Lace......and then another link for the photo with the shrub in and out of bloom. It is very very hardy.

If you're putting in a link to a photo that's fine, what's inappropriate is saving the pic on your hard drive and then uploading it directly. But as long as you link to it on the site it lives on there are no copyright issues.

Well, I guess I am ok then. Wouldn't want to breach etiquette or infringe on any copywrite --even unintentionally. But, whenever I try to copy the link/address that leads to a photo here at DG.. it seems to convert the link to the host site --just as it did when I tried to link to the photo of the Black Lace.