Purple Magic Crape Myrtle is a popular flowering plant known for its striking purple flowers and ornamental value. This beautiful tree is commonly used in landscaping due to its vibrant blooms, attractive foliage, and versatile nature. It belongs to the Lagerstroemia genus and is a cultivar of the Crape Myrtle tree, which is native to East Asia and Australia. One of the main highlights of the Purple Magic Crape Myrtle is its eye-catching deep purple flowers that bloom from summer to fall. These blooms are arranged in large, dense clusters that cover the entire tree, creating a stunning visual display. In addition to their attractive color, the flowers also have a delicate and ruffled appearance.
First Editions® Purple Magic Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtles are a staple of the southern yard. With pompoms of profusely purple blooms and a neat and tidy size, the First Editions® Purple Magic Crape Myrtle bush (Lagerstroemia 'Purple Magic') is the perfect addition to achieve some southern charm in your yard. This brilliant Crape Myrtle stays compact, so it won't grow unwieldy and can fit compact yards. The Purple Magic Crape Myrtle's lovely blooms truly are magical. They erupt in deep violet clusters and catch the light for a brilliant show of mauves and lavenders. And you won't be the only one infatuated with the purple mystique of these flowers! Hummingbirds and pollinators love Crape Myrtles, too! This southern belle isn't just beautiful because of her ravishing blooms. The Purple Magic Crape Myrtle's foliage is a glossy green that blushes to bright red in the fall. Many people even appreciate and admire how its leaf buds first appear bright red before changing into luxurious green leaves that dance in the wind. The Purple Magic Crape Myrtle's manageable semi-dwarf height makes it a great choice for a wide array of uses! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 7 to 9, growers in zone 6 and under can use this fast-growing flowering shrub as an annual accent. Or, northern growers can pot these plants up for seasonal décor, and then overwinter the pots in an unheated garage or shed once the shrub has gone dormant in the autumn!
Planting and Application:
- Excellent Clusters of Crinkly Violet Blooms
- Semi-Dwarf Size for Versatile Use!
- Red-Tinged Leaf Buds that Turn Glossy Green
- Long-Lasting Blooms For Hummingbirds & Pollinators!
- Hedges For Privacy & Screening, Specimens & Wide Landscape Use
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Easy to grow Crape Myrtles, sometimes spelled as one word or as Crepe Myrtle, need full sun for the strongest growth and the most blooms! Provide a very well-drained location with regular moisture access for your new plant, then after your plant is established, you should only need to supply supplemental moisture during extreme drought. Topping the soil layer off with a 3-4 inch deep layer of arborist mulch will greatly reduce moisture evaporation and keep the roots cool in summer and insulated in the winter.
Purple Magic can be kept just about any size you'd like with yearly pruning in the early spring before it starts growing. Blooming on new wood, you can even trim your shrub close to the ground and watch as it bounces back quickly! Deadhead blooms to be gifted with a rebloom in late summer, or just to keep the shrub tidier.
Fertilize each spring with a flowering shrub fertilizer but keep lawn fertilizer away due to the high nitrogen causing excessive leafy growth and impeding flowering. As for powdery mildew, Crape Myrtles are developed with a strong resistance to it, but situating your shrub in the morning sun to dry the leaves and in an area with good air circulation helps significantly!
- Full Sun For The Most Blooms
- Widely Adaptable To Any Well-Drained Soil
- Drought Tolerant Once Established
- Prune Early Spring
- Deer Don't Prefer the Taste
Celebrate summer year after year with your very own First Editions®Purple Magic Crape Myrtle! Order yours today at Nature Hills and start adding magic to your landscape!
Single Stem, Multi Stem, Shrub Form, Oh My!
Before you buy, make sure you know what you're getting! Single-stem, multi-stem and shrub forms are different so read a bit about which we're currently offering below.
Single Stem:
These are plants that have one stem coming from the ground. Plants can also be considered single stem when lower branches are removed to raise the height of the branching. Sometimes, you will hear a single stem referred to as Tree Form.
Multi Stem:
These are plants with 2 or more stems planted together in the ground in close proximity to form a clump. There are times multi-stems are formed by a tree that branches at the soil line with more than one main stem.
Shrub Form:
These are bushy plants with many stems and branchings close to the ground. They are referred to as shrubs or bushes and are often shorter than their tree forms.
In addition to their attractive color, the flowers also have a delicate and ruffled appearance. The foliage of the Purple Magic Crape Myrtle is another feature that adds to its appeal. The leaves are medium green and elliptical in shape, providing a beautiful backdrop to the vibrant flowers.
Buying Options for Plants
Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.
Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!
Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.
- Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
- Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.
In the fall, the leaves may change color and can exhibit shades of red, orange, or yellow, enhancing the tree's overall beauty. Another reason why the Purple Magic Crape Myrtle is highly regarded is its ability to adapt to different growing conditions. It is a versatile tree that can thrive in a wide range of climates, making it suitable for various regions. It is drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for areas with limited water availability. Additionally, it can tolerate full sun or partial shade, making it adaptable to different light conditions. When it comes to care and maintenance, the Purple Magic Crape Myrtle is relatively easy to grow. It prefers well-drained soil and benefits from regular watering, especially during hot and dry periods. The tree should be pruned in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches and promote healthy growth. Overall, the Purple Magic Crape Myrtle is a stunning flowering tree that brings beauty and elegance to any landscape. With its bold purple flowers, attractive foliage, and adaptable nature, it is no wonder why it is a popular choice among homeowners and landscapers alike. Whether planted as a focal point in a garden or used as a border plant, this crape myrtle cultivar is sure to captivate and impress..
Reviews for "Purple Magic Crape Myrtle: A Showstopper in Seasonal Flower Beds"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars - I am highly disappointed with the Purple magic crape myrtle. I purchased this plant with high hopes as the pictures showed beautiful purple flowers. However, when it bloomed, the flowers were a pale lavender color and lacked vibrancy. The plant also did not grow as quickly as advertised and overall, it failed to live up to my expectations. I would not recommend this variety to anyone seeking a vibrant and fast-growing crape myrtle.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I was not impressed with the Purple magic crape myrtle. The flowers were supposed to be a deep, rich purple, but they turned out to be more of a faded lilac color. Additionally, the plant struggled to establish itself and had a slow growth rate. I have had better experiences with other crape myrtle varieties and would not choose this one again in the future.
3. Mark - 2 out of 5 stars - The Purple magic crape myrtle did not meet my expectations. The flowers were not as abundant as I had hoped, and the color was not as intense as advertised. The plant also required frequent pruning to maintain its shape, which was an added maintenance burden. Overall, I was disappointed with the performance and appearance of this variety and would not choose it again for my garden.