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Botanical name: Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit IV’
This stunning ornamental shrub or small tree produces long lasting cherry red blooms in summer, reblooming in fall; stunning orange fall foliage; a captivating focal point for the garden or border; also good for container planting.
Other names: Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle
| Hardiness zone | 6a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | cherry red |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | round |
| Mature height | 15 feet |
| Spread | 15 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Red Rocket Crapemyrtle is clothed in stunning panicles of cherry red frilly flowers at the ends of the branches from early summer to early fall. It has attractive dark green foliage which emerges red in spring. The oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn orange in fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Red Rocket Crapemyrtle is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Red Rocket Crapemyrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening, General Garden Use, Container Planting
Red Rocket Crapemyrtle will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 3 feet 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 is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Red Rocket 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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