hard w/o a pic ...

i have no experience with this plant.. so i will leave that part to others ...

but if you already know you have a large vigorous specimen.. with certain vigor.. inappropriately placed in front of a window..

why dont you get rid of the thing.. and plant something.. that will be a bit more carefree for the rest of your life???

why save a mistake.. made by the prior owner??

or do you have so little to do.. that you will enjoy pruning/shearing it 2 or 3 times per year ???

just asking you to look outside the box you presented ...

ken

Yes, loropetalum can be cut TO THE GROUND in a true renovation pruning. But I would wait until March or April to do it. You'll love the results.

I have numerous lorapetalums that I shear every year. I planted the smaller 'Purple Diamond' in the front of the house. But even this one needs a lot of shearing to keep smaller.

Of course since I planted mine, the cultivar 'Purple Pixie' came out. It is more of a trailer and doesn't get so high. You should consider replacing yours with this cultivar as it is much slower growing.

Check it out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Purple Pixie

Dave, I like that Purple Pixie! Looks like a great plant. I think that I need to locate one to grow in a container on the patio.

You might pull this one out and plant a smaller variety. Sounds like the current one went through some torture from the previous owner. Even if you cut it to the ground, you will be pruning it frequently. Why not plant a smaller variety like the Purple Diamond? I would definitely plant another one though because these plants are dead gorgeous. I'd have one but I'm just outside their zone :(