Overall Description
A new
introduction from Dr. Michael Dirr's breeding program at the University
of Georgia, this truly dwarf crape myrtle has been selected for its
flower color, brilliant foliage, mildew resistance, vigor, and nice
compact growth habit. Flowers begin in July, and are bright cherry red
in color. Nice prostrate growth habit, with dense, dark foliage. New
growth is an orange / red color maturing to nice deep, dark green - has
a nice burgundy red fall color as well. All these new Razzle Dazzle
Series crape myrtles are an excellent choice for those fans of crape
myrtles out there who just don't have the space required for the larger
varieties. Now even smaller, limited space landscapes can benefit from
the beauty that comes with a crape myrtle in full bloom!!
Removal of expired flower heads will oftentimes prolong & increase
the duration of blooms - sometimes well into early October in many
areas of the country. Yearly pruning should be performed - typically in
either early fall, or in very late winter ( just before bud break in
the spring ). We recommend pruning branches back to the point where
they are the diameter of approximately 1/2" - 3/4" on more established
specimens .......Certainly no larger in diameter than 3/4". Pruning
will be much less in very young, or dwarf specimens, for the first 2-3 seasons.
Yearly pruning will spur additional branching habit the following
season which, in turn, will spur on a maximum amount of blooms year
after year since blooms are always produced at the ends of the current
years' new growth. This is one of the main reason we suggest removal of
old expired blooms to help prolong production of new blooms.
Plant Facts & Specifications
Mature Height: 3 ft
Mature Width: 3-5 ft
Growth rate: Moderate ( 6"- 8" avg per yr )
Hardiness Zones: 7-10 - As with all Crape Myrtles, will suffer branch dieback at temps below 15 degrees.
( if unsure of your zone, please use zone finder below )
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade - blooms best in full sun.
Soil Preference: Average to slightly moist & fertile - well drained.
Foliage Color & Texture: Good dark green foliage - new growth has a slight reddish orange tinge, maturing into a nice deep green. Fall color is a burgundy red color.
Flower, Cone, Or Berry Facts: Loaded with tons of cherry red blooms typically starting in July, and lasting well into
the latter part of September. Blooms leave behind a 1/4"- 1/2" diameter
seed capsule which will oftentimes persist all the way through winter.
Each seed capsule consists of 6 individual "compartments" - each
contains many long, winged seeds.
Diseases / Insects:
Powdery mildew, black spot, sooty mold, tip blight, leaf spot
(Cercospora spp. are the causal agents), Botryosphaeria canker, root
rot, aphids, Japanese beetle, Asian ambrosia beetle and Florida wax
scale are all problems that have been reported with Crape Myrtles. The
most common problems encountered are powdery mildew, black spot, and
aphids. Regular inspections, and treatments ( when necessary ), should
be performed periodically throughout the growing season, so as to not
allow any serious problems to take hold.
Fertilization / Feeding: For maximum health & blooming, we highly recommend POOPeas
for use with all Crape Myrtles.
However, either water soluble ( Miracle Gro, or equivalent ), or
granular fertilizers ( Holly Tone is excellent ) are also good options. Most any granular fertilizers with a 6-12-12, or
10-10-10 ratio are also acceptable. Best to fertilize in early spring, and then continue light
to moderate applications throughout the spring & early summer months.
Best to back off fertilizing during peak summer heat ( late July &
August ) - then resume light feeding in early fall as leaf colors
change. POOPeas may be used at anytime. Discontinue all feeding / fertilizing once leaves begin to drop
for the fall / winter season.
