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Botanical name: Lagerstroemia ‘Purple Magic’
This stunning ornamental shrub produces volumes of purple toned frilly blooms in summer; green foliage emerges copper, then is followed by vibrant red fall foliage; captivating focal point for the garden or border.
Other names: Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle
| Hardiness zone | 6a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | purple |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | mounded |
| Mature height | 6 feet |
| Spread | 6 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | hybrid |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Purple Magic Crapemyrtle is blanketed in stunning panicles of purple frilly flowers at the ends of the branches from mid summer to early fall. It has attractive dark green foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn red in fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Purple Magic 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 shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Purple Magic Crapemyrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening, General Garden Use, Groundcover, Container Planting
Purple Magic Crapemyrtle will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. 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.
Purple Magic 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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