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Botanical name: Lagerstroemia ‘Pocomoke’
Pretty papery panicles of pink flowers cover this miniature crapemyrtle; shows good resistance to powdery mildew; heat and drought tolerance; does not like to be over-fertilized.
Other names: Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle
| Hardiness zone | 6b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | pink |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | mounded |
| Mature height | 3 feet |
| Spread | 3 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | hybrid |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Pocomoke Crapemyrtle is draped in stunning panicles of pink frilly flowers at the ends of the branches from early to late summer. It has attractive dark green foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn orange in fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Pocomoke Crapemyrtle is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Pocomoke Crapemyrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, General Garden Use, Groundcover, Container Planting
Pocomoke Crapemyrtle 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 fast 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 prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaves in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
Pocomoke Crapemyrtle makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used 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.
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