Lagerstroemia Sunset Magic, also known as Crepe Myrtle Sunset Magic, is a beautiful flowering tree that offers vibrant color and elegance to any garden or landscape. This deciduous tree is a member of the Lythraceae family and is native to East Asia, specifically China, Korea, and Japan. One of the most distinguishing features of Lagerstroemia Sunset Magic is its stunning blooms. The tree produces clusters of vibrant magenta flowers during the summer months, creating a striking display of color in the garden. These flowers stand out against the dark green foliage, creating a beautiful contrast. The foliage of Lagerstroemia Sunset Magic is another attractive trait.
Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle
The Sunset Magic™ Crape Myrtle is a marvelous new variety of purple-leaf shrub that also carries rich red blooms for many months of the year. Colored foliage is always loved in the garden, and purple is the most popular color, because it really stands out and contrasts well with other colors, such as golden leaves. This plant has very persistent coloring, holding its deep-purple color all through summer, right up to leaf-drop. It is as good as or superior to other purple-leaf shrubs, and many of those older plants flower for just a few days, and they may have disease problems too. This vigorous plant blooms from June to September, and it is free of the diseases that cause unattractive foliage and leaf drop in older types of crape myrtle. It grows between 5 and 10 feet tall, but stays only around 6 feet wide, so it fits perfectly into the smaller gardens so many of us have today.
- Rich black-purple foliage all season, for dramatic color
- Rich red flower clusters continuously from summer to fall
- Grows easily in any sunny spot, and resists drought
- Specially bred to resist the leaf disease that mar older crape myrtles
- A top-quality shrub for both foliage and flower color
Plant the Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle in a sunny location, so that it flowers prolifically and keeps the richest possible leaf coloring. It will grow rapidly and without any problems in any well-drained soil, growing well even in poor sand and gravel soils. If you have a hot, sunny spot in your garden, this shrub will thrive. It is fast-growing too, so very soon you will have a full-sized plant, bringing vibrant leaf color from spring to fall, and powerful red flowers all summer and fall too. Diseases and pests won’t bother it, and the all-season interest will really bring your garden to life.
Shrubs with colored foliage are always popular, but never more than today. This is because they give months of color in the garden for very little work, so rather than growing flowering plants that take lots of care, or shrubs that flower for just a week or two each year, they are all you need for a colorful garden. Modern gardeners love to mix and match shrubs with different leaf colors, and no colors are more popular than rich deep reds and purples – the deeper, richer and more persistent the better. There are other shrubs that have this coloring, such as the Purple Leaf Plum, but no other purple-leaf shrub has the beautiful flowers, long bloom period, and trouble-free habits of the Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle.
The Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle is an upright shrub, reaching 5 to 10 feet in height, depending on where you grow it and how you prune it. It has a relatively narrow form for a Crape Myrtle, growing only 4 to 8 feet wide, so it is ideal for a smaller garden, or for mixing among other shrubs. From the very beginning of the spring growth this deciduous shrub produces vigorous, glossy foliage that is a rich, deep black-purple color. This coloring persists throughout the season, all the way into fall, so unlike other purple-leaf shrubs that fade to murky purple-greens as summer progresses, this shrub stays rich and colorful until the leaves eventually fall.
But this is not all; once June arrives, or a little later in the northern limits of zone 7, blooms begin to appear. Every branch ends in a large cluster of flowers, 4 ½ inches long and a plump 4 inches across, packed with many flowers. The flowers are a rich red – an almost perfect ‘true’ red – which contrasts with the purple foliage to create a vibrant, majestic effect you will love. Each flower cluster lasts about 10 days, but new ones are constantly being produced, and your shrub will still be blooming away in September, only stopping when the colder weather arrives. To keep your Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle blooming to the max, remove spent flower heads by cutting back just above the first full-sized leaves. Towards the end of the season, if you stop removing spent flowers you will be rewarded with attractive seed pods, that add interest in winter after the leaves have fallen.
The foliage of Lagerstroemia Sunset Magic is another attractive trait. The leaves are lance-shaped and glossy, adding a touch of sophistication to the tree's overall appearance. As the seasons change, the leaves turn a rich red or orange, providing a beautiful fall display before they eventually drop.
Growing Sunset Magic™ Crape Myrtles
Grow the Sunset Magic Crape Myrtle in a sunny location, to maximize flowering and the intensity of the leaf coloring. It will grow in any well-drained soil, including sandy and stony soils. Once established this is a very drought-resistant shrub, and it thrives in hot, dry weather.
Pests and Diseases
It has been specially bred to resist powdery mildew, a disease wide-spread and common on older types of Crape Myrtles. This disease disfigures the leaves by covering them with a white powder in summer. As well, this tough plant is resistant to the more serious Cercospora leaf spot disease, which causes sever spotting, followed by leaf fall and defoliation. You can forget about these diseases with this variety, and it is rarely troubled by any serious pests either.
Pruning
Usually it is recommended that Crape Myrtle should be pruned in spring, but this shrub has been bred to give it a free-branching habit. This allows it to form a dense, finely-textured form naturally. You can still prune in the traditional way if you choose to. To do this, cut back the branches by one-third in early spring, removing weaker branches, or cutting them back by two-thirds to stimulate stronger growth. You can also prune up to create a short trunk and a more tree-like form.
In terms of size, Lagerstroemia Sunset Magic is a relatively compact tree, reaching an average height of around 10 to 15 feet and a spread of about 8 to 10 feet. This compact size makes it well-suited for smaller gardens or as an accent tree in larger landscapes. With its upright growth habit and rounded canopy, it adds vertical interest and structure to any outdoor space. Lagerstroemia Sunset Magic is relatively easy to care for, making it a popular choice among gardeners. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires well-draining soil. Regular watering and occasional fertilization promote healthy growth and abundant blooms. This tree is also relatively resistant to pests and diseases, further adding to its appeal. Overall, Lagerstroemia Sunset Magic is a stunning flowering tree that brings beauty and elegance to any garden setting. Its vibrant magenta blooms, glossy foliage, and compact size make it a cherished addition to landscapes around the world. Whether used as a focal point or as part of a larger planting scheme, this tree is sure to capture attention and admiration..
Reviews for "The Role of Lagerstroemia Sunset Magic in Traditional Medicine"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with Lagerstroemia sunset magic. I planted it in my garden with high hopes of a beautiful flowering tree. However, it did not live up to my expectations. The flowers were not as vibrant as I had seen in pictures, and they did not last very long either. Additionally, the tree itself did not grow as tall or full as I had hoped. Overall, I was not impressed with this plant and would not recommend it.
2. Mark - 1 star
I had a terrible experience with Lagerstroemia sunset magic. The tree arrived with half of its branches completely dead. It took a lot of effort to revive it, and even then, it didn't thrive as promised. The few flowers that did bloom were pale and lacked the vibrant colors I had seen in advertisements. It was a waste of money and time, and I would not recommend this plant to anyone.
3. Jennifer - 3 stars
While Lagerstroemia sunset magic did have some beautiful blooms, I found it to be somewhat high-maintenance. The tree required constant pruning and careful attention to watering needs to keep it healthy. Additionally, the flowers didn't last very long, and the tree didn't provide much shade as I had hoped. If you're prepared to put in the effort and don't mind the short-lived flowers, then this tree might be suitable for you. However, for those looking for a low-maintenance option, I would not recommend it.
4. David - 2 stars
I had high hopes for Lagerstroemia sunset magic, but it turned out to be quite disappointing. The tree was slow to establish and did not grow as quickly as advertised. The flowers were also not as impressive as I had expected, and they only bloomed for a short period of time. Overall, it did not live up to its claims, and I would not purchase this plant again.