Lagerstroemia ruffled red magic is a type of crepe myrtle hybrid that exhibits stunning red flowers with ruffled edges. This elegant flowering tree is known for its compact size, making it suitable for smaller gardens or as a patio plant. The ruffled red magic crepe myrtle typically reaches a height of about 10 feet, making it a great addition to any landscape. Its unique feature is the dense clusters of vibrant red flowers that bloom in the summer months. The ruffled edges of the petals add a touch of elegance and sophistication to the overall appearance of the tree. In addition to its beautiful flowers, the ruffled red magic also offers attractive bark and foliage.

Lagerstroemia ruffled red magic

Sizing Chart

**Dormancy Note - This plant is currently dormant for the winter! It is available for purchase! Your delivered plant may be dormant, or showing very little top growth. However, you can still plant! These plants are putting all their energy into root production, so they will be ready to thrive in the spring! If you have any issues with your plant the following peak season, you can fill out our return request form to request a replacement plant.

Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle is a cultivar of the Lagerstroemia indica, a flowering deciduous tree known for its vibrant blooms. Here's some information about the Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle:

1. Appearance: Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle is a medium-sized tree that typically reaches a height of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) with a spread of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.6 meters). It has an upright, vase-shaped growth habit. The most notable feature of this cultivar is its ruffled, crepe-like flowers.
2. Flowers: The Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle produces abundant clusters of large, ruffled flowers in a vibrant red color. The flowers have a crepe-like texture, giving them a unique and attractive appearance. They typically bloom in the summer and continue into early fall, adding a burst of color to the landscape.
3. Tolerance: Crape Myrtles, including the Ruffled Red Magic™ variety, are known for their tolerance to heat, drought, and a wide range of soil conditions. They prefer full sun exposure to ensure optimal flowering.

Ruffled Red Magic Crape Myrtle

The Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle absolutely blew us away, with its powerful red-orange blooms. Their vibrant coloring is emphasized by the way the carnation-like flowers hide the yellow stamens. The rich green foliage is a perfect background, and in fall the leaves turn wonderful shades of orange, yellow and red. Grow this medium-sized shrub as a stunning lawn specimen or at the back of a bed. Plant it as a screen or against a fence or wall. You can even grow it in a large tub for color anywhere.

• Stunning rich red-orange blooms
• Unique ‘carnation’ flower form intensifies the bright coloring
• In bloom from June to September
• Resistant to disfiguring foliage diseases
• Hardy in zone 6, as a smaller flowering shrub

The Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle thrives in full sun, and enjoys well-drained soil, even drier and poor soils. Don’t plant in wet places. This variety is resistant to leaf diseases, like powdery mildew or leaf spot, so the foliage is always clean and green. Insect pests are rarely problems and deer usually ignore it. A simple trim or harder pruning is spring, and removing the first spent flower heads, is all the care needed.

Sometimes we pay a lot of attention to foliage colors and plant form when choosing plants, and we can forget the real magic of plants – their flowers. If you are a lover of brilliant flower color, then you will love the Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle. It has outstanding blossoms, in huge clusters of up to 50 blooms, and they are a remarkable brilliant red-orange color that will stun you with its beauty. They have a unique form that hides the yellow stamens usually visible in crape myrtle, so nothing dilutes the petal color, giving you an intensity that you won’t believe could be so good. A medium-sized shrub that will soon reach 12 feet if you let it, this is a ‘blow you away’ lawn specimen that will make your garden famous. The fall foliage colors are outstanding too, so this is a shrub that color lovers shouldn’t live without.

In addition to its beautiful flowers, the ruffled red magic also offers attractive bark and foliage. The bark has a smooth texture and an interesting mottled appearance, which adds visual interest even when the tree is not in bloom. The foliage is a rich green color and has a glossy texture, providing a lush backdrop for the vibrant flowers.

Growing the Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle

Size and Appearance

The Ruffled Red Magic Crape Myrtle is a medium-sized upright shrub which will reach 12 feet tall within a few years, with a width of about 8 feet. It can be kept smaller by annual pruning. The older stems and branches have flaking bark in a range of colors, from tan and beige to gray, which makes the winter stems attractive. The leaves are oval and smooth, with a lustrous glossy surface. They are about 1½ inches long and 1 inch wide, and the bush is very leafy, with foliage almost to the ground. Older plants will become more tree-like, particularly if they are not pruned regularly. Leaf color is a warm, rich green and in fall the leaves turn glowing shades of orange, yellow and dark red – a great boost to the fall color in your garden.

Flowering begins in June and continues steadily into September. The flowers are in bunches of 30 to 50 at the ends of every new stem, and these bunches are between 4 and 5 inches long, creating real impact. The inch-wide flowers have a ‘crepe-paper’ texture and in this particular variety they have a unique form that encloses the stamens, rather than leaving them visible. This makes the flowers look a little like carnations. Since the yellow stamen color tends to dilute the impact of the petal color in most varieties, the result is a much more intense color effect than is normally seen – a real color punch. The flowers are a powerful and vibrant red with orange overtones and this shrub really delivers on color. Flowers open in succession, and each cluster lasts about 2 weeks. When the flowers have fallen interesting seed heads develop, with six-sided, tan-colored seed pods.

Using the Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle in Your Garden

This shrub is the perfect size for a showy lawn specimen, or for the back of your shrub borders. It would also be very effective as a screen, or planted against a wall of your home, or along a fence. Use it anywhere you want color impact. It can also be grown for several years in a large tub or planter.

Hardiness

The Ruffled Red Magic Crape Myrtle is fully hardy from zone 7 to zone 9. It is root-hardy in zone 6, meaning it will re-sprout after winter injury, growing to 3 or 4 feet tall. Since flowers are carried on young stems, plants in zone 6 will still flower profusely.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Like all crape myrtles, this one should be planted in full sun for the most blooms. It grows well in any well-drained soil, and that includes poorer, dry soils, because this plant has very good drought resistance once well-established.

Maintenance and Pruning

To maximize flowering, it is advisable to remove the spent flower clusters once the last petals have fallen. This will encourage the development of more clusters. These second clusters can be left until the spring pruning, as many gardeners find the seed pods an attractive winter feature.

With its naturally bushy look, you can leave the Ruffled Red Magic Crape Myrtle to grow naturally. Some spring pruning is recommended. This can be light, just removing the ends of the branches a little, or more severe, cutting back the stems of the previous year to just a few inches in length – or anything in between, depending on your needs. All pruning and trimming should be done before the new growth begins, and avoid trimming during summer, as this will remove potential flower clusters and reduce the impact of this plant significantly.

Unlike old-fashioned crape myrtles, the plants in the Magic series all have excellent resistance to powdery mildew and Cercospora leaf spot – common diseases of crape myrtles that make them look less attractive in summer. This plant will always look great, with clean, glossy leaves that don’t yellow and drop in summer.

History and Origin of the Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle

Michael Dirr is one of America’s greatest plantsmen and breeders, with his team at Plant Introductions, Inc. Watkinsville, Georgia, created the Magic series of crape myrtles. For this variety they crossed two existing varieties of Magic crape myrtles – Red Rooster (‘Piilag-III’) and Red Rocket (‘Whit-IV’). In 2010 they selected one of the seedlings for its unique flower form and brilliant coloring. They patented it in 2016 as ‘PIILAG-VII’. Bailey Nurseries have added it to the Magic series as Ruffled Red Magic™, part of their First Editions® collection of new plants for our gardens.

Buying the Ruffled Red Magic™ Crape Myrtle at The Tree Center

We love having this great plant on the farm, but we know we won’t be able to enjoy them for long. No-one can resist those wonderful flowers and stunning color, so place your order now, because this is a bush that soon won’t be with us anymore.

RUFFLED RED MAGIC™ CRAPEMYRTLE

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Root Pouch 3 gallon (SKU: 9167)
4 - Available Now (S) - Details - Grown in Root Pouch®. List Price $85.00 per plant In Stock

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10 - Available Now (S) - Details - Multi-stem Grown in Root Pouch®. List Price $115.00 per plant In Stock

Hardiness Zone: 6-9 · Mature Height: 9-12 Feet · Mature Spread: 7-9 Feet Buy Ruffled Red Magic™ Crapemyrtle online. Talk about red AND ruffled! This crapemyrtle has distinctly different, carnation-like, glowing red flowers that show beautifully against the lustrous dark green foliage. Foliage turns orange-red in fall. The habit is upright, but compact, with dense branching. Like the others in the Magic® series, Ruffled Red™ reblooms in late summer if the first flush of flowers is deadheaded. It is also resistant to Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew, which is quite a breeding accomplishment in red crapes.

Family: Lythraceae · Common Name: Crapemyrtle

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• A pre-applied, pre-measured amount of time release fertilizer that keeps your plant well nourished for up to one year.
• Pre-hydrated Hydro-Gels are included in the top of each container to use when planting as they help retain soil moisture, and plants will establish more quickly with less transplant shock. Plants will also survive drought-like conditions and accidental missed waterings better.
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One of the benefits of the ruffled red magic crepe myrtle is its resistance to common pests and diseases. This makes it a low-maintenance option for gardeners who want to enjoy the beauty of a flowering tree without the hassle of constant upkeep. It is also relatively drought-tolerant once established, making it a suitable choice for regions with hot and dry climates. To ensure optimal growth and flowering, the ruffled red magic crepe myrtle prefers full sun exposure. It thrives in well-drained soil and benefits from regular watering during dry periods. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring to maintain its desired size and shape. Overall, the ruffled red magic crepe myrtle is a stunning and compact flowering tree that adds beauty and elegance to any landscape. Its vibrant red flowers with ruffled edges make it a standout choice for gardens, patios, and other outdoor spaces. With its resistance to pests and diseases, as well as its low-maintenance nature, it is a popular choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners..

Reviews for "Unlocking the secrets of Lagerstroemia Ruffled Red Magic's vibrant hues"

1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with my Lagerstroemia ruffled red magic plant. It arrived looking smaller and less vibrant than I expected. I carefully followed the planting and care instructions, but it just didn't thrive. The leaves started turning yellow and falling off within a few weeks, and despite my best efforts to save it, the plant eventually died. I have had success with other varieties of crepe myrtle plants, but this one was a total letdown.

2. Mark - 1 star - I do not recommend Lagerstroemia ruffled red magic at all. I purchased this plant for its supposed "ruffled red" flowers, but they were nowhere near as vibrant as the photos showed. Not only that, but the plant had a weak structure and needed constant support to prevent it from leaning over. It required regular pruning to maintain its shape, and even then, it struggled to produce enough blooms. Save your money and invest in a different variety of crepe myrtle.

3. Janice - 2 stars - Lagerstroemia ruffled red magic did not live up to my expectations. The plant arrived in good condition, but it quickly developed powdery mildew and black spot disease. Despite following the recommended fungicide treatments, the diseases persisted and spread to other plants in my garden. The overall health and vigor of this crepe myrtle were lacking, and I ended up having to remove it to prevent further disease spread. I wouldn't recommend this particular cultivar due to its susceptibility to common plant diseases.

4. Mike - 3 stars - Lagerstroemia ruffled red magic was just average in my experience. The plant grew relatively well and had a decent number of flowers, but they were smaller than I anticipated. The ruffled aspect wasn't as pronounced as described, and the overall appearance of the plant was underwhelming. While it was a hardy plant that required minimal care, I believe there are better crepe myrtle varieties available that offer more striking blooms and overall aesthetics.

5. Emily - 2 stars - I wasn't impressed with Lagerstroemia ruffled red magic. The plant struggled to establish itself in my garden and had poor root development. It showed signs of stress, such as leaf discoloration and wilting, despite being watered adequately. I suspect that the plant I received was not of high quality. I would caution others to thoroughly inspect the plant upon arrival to ensure it is healthy before planting. Overall, it was a disappointing experience.

The unique characteristics of Lagerstroemia Ruffled Red Magic