First Editions® Plum Magic Crape Myrtle Shrub

Crape Myrtles are beautiful additions to any garden, but First Editions® Plum Magic Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Plum Magic' PP23,518) is a truly special addition! This is a new form of Crape Myrtle with a semi-dwarf form for more compact growth!

These easy-care flowering shrubs naturally grow into rounded form with a nice full shape. The leaves start off a plum-purple in spring and mature into a rich dark green by summertime. The green leaves really set off the bright fuchsia-pink flowers that follow!

New Plum Magic blooms in early summer and, if deadheaded, again in late summer! The flowers of all Crape Myrtle selections are long-lasting and feed pollinators and hummingbirds galore! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 6 to 9, gardeners in growing zones 5 and under can still grow Plum Magic as a fast-growing annual and overwinter them in a protected cool location.

Planting and Application:

A row of Plum Magic Crape Myrtles would make a great foundation planting or backdrop! Densely branched enough for screening and privacy, and tall enough to keep prying eyes out of your yard!

Use as impressive specimen and garden accents in both their shrub form or 'limbed up' into small multi-trunked flowering trees! Providing interest all year, whether from foliage, flowers, or bark in the winter! The naturally rounded shape needs little pruning to look good, but can be kept smaller to better suit smaller landscapes and even container gardens!

You can also grow Plum Magic in a large, decorative, outdoor container. Try a pair of them flanking either side of a sunny front door or the entrance to a garden path. Pop them here and there, wherever you need a boost of color in your landscape. They also make great strategic screening plants or accent plants just where you need them around your patio, poolside, porch, or balcony!

Plum Magic doesn't grow as tall as other Crapemyrtles so it looks amazing massed in large beds under trees so long as they get plenty of sun during the day! Try it in a perennial border or as a nice foil to evergreen plantings. The beautiful flowers and a splash of color wherever they are!

• Fuchsia-Pink Crepe Paper-Like Blooms
• Deep Purple-Maroon Leaves Turn Rich Green In Summer
• Semi-Dwarf Dense Form
• Pollinator & Hummingbird Favorites
• Great Hedges, Privacy Fencing, Large & Small Gardens or Containers

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Grow these flowering ornamental shrubs in full sun for the most flowers and strongest growth. Water regularly during the first season to get the roots established, then extend the period between watering during the second season to encourage deep root development. Plum Magic Crape Myrtle responds well to mulching, applying a 3 to 4-inch deep layer, extending 3 feet outside the canopy to help conserve water and keep roots cool in the hot summer.

All Crape Myrtles flowers on new wood. This is great, as it means that even heavy pruning in late winter or early spring will not affect this season's flowers. Prune to shape at that time, or just to remove twiggy growth to allow good air circulation into the canopy. Deadhead any spent flower clusters as they fade to encourage more blooms during the active growing season.

In Zone 6, this versatile plant will behave as a perennial in the ground and regrow from the roots in the spring. Place a layer of straw around the crown of the plant in the winter to ensure it returns, even in the coldest years. In spring, simply trim off any old winter-damaged wood and prepare for new growth.

• Full Sun
• Drought Tolerant Once Established
• About Any Well-Drained Soil
• Blooms on New Wood - Prune in Early Spring
• Highly Mildew Resistant & Deer Seldom Bother Them
• Low Maintenance & Easy-Care
• Use as a Colorful Annual in Zones 3 - 5

The First Editions® Plum Magic Crape Myrtle is sure to be a standout in your garden and provide a magical changing color throughout the growing season! Order yours today at Nature Hills Nursery today!