What is a black diamond crape myrtle

Black Diamonds are a revolutionary new series of crape myrtles that provide unique beauty to your landscape and instant yard envy for your neighbors. Flawless black foliage emerges in early spring followed by masses of brilliant jewel-toned blooms that last until the first frost.

How tall does a black diamond crape myrtle get?

Mature Height:10-12 ft.Mature Width:4-5 ft.Sunlight:Full SunGrowth Rate:ModerateBotanical Name:Lagerstroemia indica

What colors do black diamond crepe myrtles come in?

The distinctive black diamond crape myrtle has dark purple – almost black leaves – and comes in three shades of red, blush and pure white blooms. It was developed in Mississippi and is grown almost exclusively at J. Berry Nursery near Grand Saline.

How fast does a black diamond crape myrtle grow?

How Fast do Black Diamond Crape Myrtles Grow? A Black Diamond Crape Myrtle tree can grow 2 to 4 feet in a single year. Once they get to mature height the trunks and branches grow thicker, but the trees stay around 12 feet tall.

How far apart do you plant Black Diamond crepe myrtle?

Plant about 6 feet apart to provide some subtle privacy in spring, summer and fall. Try this lovely crape myrtle in a container.

Can you plant a crepe myrtle near your house?

Plant large type crape myrtles a minimum of 6ft away from a structure (house, etc). To create a look where the canopies of the plants will grow together and provide shade, plant Medium Crape Myrtles 6′-10′ apart, and Standard (Tree) Crape Myrtles 8′-12′ apart.

What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle tree?

Lifespan – When planted in full sun and fertile soil, Crepe Myrtles can live well beyond 50 years. In fact, dotted along the southeastern landscape, it is common to come across specimens over 100 years old.

What is the prettiest crape myrtle?

  • Tuscarora Crape Myrtle. Maturing to a height of around 20 feet, the Tuscarora Crape Myrtle is known by its signature coral, pink blooms. …
  • Muskogee Crape Myrtle. …
  • Natchez Crape Myrtle. …
  • Arapaho Crape Myrtle. …
  • Black Diamond Crape Myrtle.

Do crepe myrtles have invasive roots?

Crepe myrtle trees are lovely, delicate trees offering bright, spectacular flowers in the summer and beautiful fall color when the weather begins to chill. … You don’t have to worry about this issue because crepe myrtle tree roots are not invasive.

Which tree is better red rocket or dynamite crape myrtle?

The Red Rocket Crape Myrtle is your best choice for cooler zones as this variety goes into a zone 6. The Dynamite is an extremely popular variety for its cherry red color, pest and disease resistance, drought tolerance, and classic Crape Myrtle shape.

Article first time published on

Are Black Diamond crepe myrtles deciduous?

Genus Lagerstroemia Lagerstroemia is a genus comprising of about 50 species, commonly known as the Crape or Crepe Myrtles. By nature, these plants are deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs.

How do you protect Black Diamond crape myrtle in winter?

It is advisable to wrap young (1 year or less) and small Crepe Myrtle trees. Wrap burlap around the branches and then add an insulating filler such as leaves or straw to provide additional protection. Use bush jackets for dwarf plants. Bush jackets are reusable insulating covers that cover the plant.

Are crape myrtles good for privacy?

Crape Myrtles are a beautiful choice when deciding what to plant. … You will receive well branched plants that will quickly become a thick, bushy and blooming privacy shield.

How far from a fence should you plant a crepe myrtle?

If you are planting a row of crape myrtles to create a privacy screen, you’ll want to leave at least three feet from your property line or fence. Five feet is recommended for larger types, as you’ll want to ensure you have control over the growth and pruning of your tree.

Do birds like crepe myrtle trees?

A garden with a crepe myrtle also enjoys bird song. Birds flock to crepe myrtle trees to eat the ripe berries and also to feast on insect pests.

Do crepe myrtles need deadheading?

Cut off spent crape myrtle blossoms by late July to encourage flowering again. … Deadheading crape myrtles (removing dead or dying flowers) encourages new sprouts and blooms, but if you deadhead too late in the season, the tender new growth that is produced can be damaged by cold weather.

Should you top crepe myrtles?

It is important not to prune the tops of crepe myrtle trees to make them bloom. Topping may yield larger flowers but does not increase the overall volume of blooms. Extreme topping often results in weak growth that tends to bend of break in summer rains.

What is the difference between a crepe myrtle bush and a crepe myrtle tree?

The difference between the crape myrtle bush and the crape myrtle tree is that the tree is taller than crape myrtle bush. Crape myrtle bushes have multiple stems and their height is between 2 and 15 ft. … Crape myrtle trees can be as much as 20 ft. (6 m) taller than the bushes.

Are crepe myrtles messy?

Crape myrtles also require pruning to promote the new growth needed for blooming, to reveal the bark, and to keep the shrub or tree tidy. Moreover, with its flowers, leaves and peeling bark, crape myrtles can be messy to care for. Be prepared for plenty of raking and clean-up.

What time of year do you plant crepe myrtles?

Late fall to early spring is the best time to plant. But a lot of folks buy and plant their crepe myrtle in summer because they select it while it is blooming. That works too, but watering well during the summer months is crucial to transitioning it into your garden.

Where is the best place to plant crepe myrtles?

Crape Myrtle Trees need plenty of sun, so choose a bright sunny spot for your planting. They are idea for those hot, dry places where other plants do not thrive, so take advantage of that and use them in places that can be hard to fill.

How much room does a crepe myrtle need?

Most varieties grow between 10 and 30 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide. They should be planted to accommodate their mature width with at least 15 feet between each shrub. Crape myrtles have a naturally graceful form and look best when pruned lightly.

What plants go well with crepe myrtles?

  • Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) The Rose of Sharon bush perfectly compliments a crepe myrtle tree. …
  • Creeping lilyturf (Liriope spicata) The roots of your crepe myrtle tree are very shallow. …
  • Lantana. …
  • Hibiscus. …
  • Rain Lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora) …
  • Coreopsis.

Are crape myrtles and lilacs related?

Grown as bushes or small trees, crape myrtles are a flowering tree that will produce blossoms throughout the summer and well into the fall. Their ability to continually flower has earned them the nickname of Lilacs of the South.

Do deer eat crepe myrtles?

From the article at the link – Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) come in a variety of different hybrids with bright, lacy flower clusters in the summer. … Though the hungriest deer will eat plants not characteristic of its regular diet, deer will seldom eat any variety of crape myrtle.

Which crepe myrtle is the fastest growing?

The Crape Myrtle Company Basham’s Party Pink is the fastest growing Crape Myrtle Tree we have ever seen. It is not unusual for Basham’s Party Pink to grow 12 to 15 feet per year! It is a very full upright tree that grows to 30ft+ tall with a 20ft+ canopy.

How fast does a dynamite crape myrtle grow?

This shrub grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.

How do I choose a crepe myrtle?

Here are a few more tips to help you choose the right crape myrtle for you (and keep it right): If you are looking for a more disease and mildew resistant crape myrtle, consider the Magics or the Black Diamonds. If bark is important to you, the Lipan, Miami, and Natchez have the best exfoliating bark.

What color is dynamite crape myrtle?

Soil TypeAdaptableMature Height20-30 FeetMature Width10-15 FeetGrowth RatefastBloom ColorRed

Do Black Diamond crepe myrtles lose their leaves?

My Black Diamond lost ALL leaves, is it dead? Black Diamond Crapemyrtles naturally will go dormant over the winter. By late this April/early May, you should start to see buds emerge from the dormant wood. Even the wood that appears “dead” and dry will sprout new foliage.

Why do crepe myrtles not bloom?

If no flowers appear, it can be because the tree was pruned late in the season, mistakenly removing the new wood which causes the buds for the flowers to never really develop. Never prune a crape myrtle BEFORE it blooms.

You Might Also Like