Hopi Crape Myrtle is really nice mid sized variety that was specifically hybridized using L. fauriei for increased cold hardiness. Developed by Dr Don Egolf at the US National Arboretum. Growth habit is fairly broad & rounded - occasionally becoming slightly wider than tall. Blooms start in mid July, and persist until early fall in most areas. Bloom color is a very nice soft rose pink to mauve color, and looks very nice against the green foliage of this Crape Myrtle variety.
The increased cold hardiness makes this variety one of the better varieties to attempt to grow if you find yourself in a borderline climate situation ( anything below zone 7 ), and has been known to do very well through most all zone 6 locations. Mid level height & width allows for a variety of uses - can be kept at a smaller size if a lower growing flowering hedge / border is desired. Or simply allow to reach full height for a nice 8 ft tall flowering small tree. Looks extremely attractive when planted in groups, or in a long row along sidewalks, streets, or property lines.
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 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: 7-10 ft ( will definitely be closer to the 7 ft end of this range the further north it is planted )
Mature Width: 6-9 ft - slightly wider at the crown /canopy
Growth rate: Moderate to fast ( 18"-24" avg per yr )
Hardiness Zones: 6 -10 - Much more cold hardy than most varieties, but can still suffer branch dieback at temps below 5 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 with a rather glossy finish - new growth has a slight orange / red coloration. Slightly smaller leaves than many commonly used Crape Myrtles. Fall coloration is a nice yellow / orange, but not generally known for fall color display.
Flower, Cone, Or Berry Facts: Nice uniform deep rose to mauve colored blooms typically start in July, and last well into
the latter part of September or beyond.....depending on weather patterns at that time of year. 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 & hardiness, we highly recommend POOPeas
for use with all of our Crape Myrtle varieties. Either
water
soluble ( Miracle Gro, or equivalent ), or granular ( Holly Tone
is excellent ) plant foods are also good options. Other granular types with 6-12-12, or 10-10-10 ratio is
acceptable. Best to fertilize in early spring, and then continue light
to moderate application 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. Discontinue all feeding / fertilizing once leaves begin to drop
for the fall / winter season.
