Plant of the Week: Ebony Flame Crepe Myrtle

You’ll love this super unique Crepe Myrtle that has exploded onto the scene and has everyone talking about it’s vibrant, dark red blooms offset by intense black, yes black foliage! Enjoy this drought-tolerant, flowering tree all during summer and fall months. You can expect this tree to grow about 10-12 feet tall and 8 feet wide at a moderate pace. Crepe Myrtles perform exceptionally well in Hampton Roads, tolerating the area’s heat and humidity. If you love Crepe Myrtles, you’re sure to fall for this new one with it’s rare black foliage. And, if you’ve never planted Crepe Myrtles in your landscape… this is the one to kick off your love of Crepe Myrtles.

Planting Tips: For new plantings, dig a hole one and a half times wider than the plant’s container; place plant in hole, keeping the top of the root ball ground level; and back fill with dirt. Water thoroughly and then mulch around the base to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. New plantings require more frequent watering than established plants. Wind, temperature and soil are factors to consider in watering. Feed plants in early spring and again in early fall with an all-purpose fertilizer, following label instructions.

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