About
A tall, bushy deciduous shrub or small tree, which can reach a height of just under 5m in ideal conditions. It has dark purple-green foliage which changes to autumn colours, and flowers with crinkled petals which are produced in large, terminal clusters in summer. These emerge a dark plum-purple and then become fuchsia-pink at the tips of the branches, which creates a striking effect with the dark leaves. Brown and grey peeling bark offers more interest throughout the year.
About the genus
Lagerstroemia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with simple leaves and conical panicles of flowers with ruffled petals; some have attractive peeling bark
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile, acid to neutral, well-drained soil in full sun. Hot summers are needed for best flowering
PruningPruning group 1, but will tolerate hard pruning if needed
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in late spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly if grown indoors
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)