Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle, also known as Lagerstroemia indica 'Moonlight Magic', is a stunning flowering shrub that belongs to the Lythraceae family. This variety of crape myrtle is a hybrid cultivar, created by crossing the Lagerstroemia indica 'Alba' with the Lagerstroemia indica 'Purpurea'. Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle is known for its beautiful blooms and attractive foliage. It typically grows to a height of 8-10 feet, making it an excellent choice for small gardens or as a border plant. The plant features long, arching branches that are covered in dark green leaves during the summer months. In the fall, the foliage transforms into shades of red and orange, adding a burst of color to the landscape.
Moonlight magic crape myrtle
Planning to install this yourself? We recommend a size 15 Gallon or smaller for DIY installations. These sizes do not require any offloading equipment.
Any tree or shrub that is sized by HEIGHT or CAL (Caliper- size where the trunk meets the root flare) is delivered with a large root ball wrapped in burlap (B&B). They are typically 1000+ LBS per plant. They will require heavy equipment to install. Installation is not included in the price of the plant. We highly recommend adding the ServeScape ‘One-Click’ Installation service (must be added at the cart page) for material of this size, or working with a contractor that can provide equipment for installation.
For any tree or shrub that is sized larger than 10’ HEIGHT or 3” CAL, the customer will be required to provide offloading equipment or a contractor to offload unless paying for installation through ServeScape. We will coordinate delivery with you so that your contractor can have equipment ready upon your plant's arrival!
**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.
Moonlight Magic™ Crape Myrtle is a specific cultivar of the Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) tree. It is known for its stunning dark purple foliage and vibrant pink flowers. The Moonlight Magic™ Crape Myrtle is a medium-sized tree that typically reaches a height of 10-15 feet. It is a deciduous tree, meaning it sheds its leaves in the winter. This cultivar is prized for its beautiful foliage color and its ability to add a touch of elegance to any landscape.
Plant Finder
Moonlight Magic™ Crapemyrtle is blanketed in stunning panicles of white frilly flowers at the ends of the branches from mid summer to early fall. It has attractive purple deciduous foliage which emerges plum purple in spring. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn dark red in fall.
Moonlight Magic™ Crapemyrtle is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Moonlight Magic™ Crapemyrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Hedges/Screening
- General Garden Use
- Container Planting
Moonlight Magic™ Crapemyrtle will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
Moonlight Magic™ Crapemyrtle makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle
The Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle brings a unique blend of pure white flowers against dark purple leaves, in a sturdy upright large shrub growing to 12 feet tall, if untrimmed, Even in spring it is beautiful, with bold dark leaf coloring, instead of boring green leaves. That rich purple-red foliage stays richly colored throughout the summer and right up to leaf drop. The flowers begin in early summer, and continue until the first frost, looking vibrant and sophisticated against the contrast leaves. Use this tree as specimen in a lawn, behind shorter plants, or as an informal screen or hedge. With spring trimming it can be maintained just 6 or 8 feet tall, and still flower profusely for months and months.
- Purple foliage in spring, and all summer long
- Great contrast of white blooms all summer and fall
- Easily grown even in poor soil, heat and sun
- Disease resistance means clean foliage all season
- Perfect size for informal screens and hedges
Grow your Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle a sunny place, and it thrives even in poor, dry soil, once established. This tree thrives in hot locations, even near the sea, as it is salt-spray tolerant too. It has been specially bred to be resistant to both powdery mildew and leaf spot diseases, so those beautiful leaves will always look glossy and clean, even in heat and humidity. It has no serious pests, and it grows rapidly. To keep the plant shorter and bushier, prune the stems from the previous year back to just a few inches long, in early spring, before new growth begins. For a taller plant, simply remove the tips of the branches. Removing spent flower clusters will encourage continuous flowering for months and months.
Purple-leaf foliage is a great addition in any garden, adding interest and color for months and months. The richness of color creates vibrant contrasts with the greens of your other plants, and it makes blooms almost unnecessary. The purple-leaf plum is a popular classic choice, but in many areas these plants have disease problems, with the leaves falling in summer, leaving a less-than-attractive plant just when you want your garden to be at its best. In recent years a superior alternative has become available for that tired old purple-leaf plum, in the form of new varieties of crape myrtle with vibrant, all-season purple foliage. These tough plants are disease resistant, and they stay attractive through even the hottest and most humid weather. Plus of course, they have a long blooming period throughout the summer. A fabulous choice for a large shrub or small tree with this powerful purple foliage is the Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle. This new variety has proven to be reliable, drought and disease resistant, and it features beautiful pure-white flowers too.
In the fall, the foliage transforms into shades of red and orange, adding a burst of color to the landscape. The real showstopper of Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle is its flowers. The plant produces clusters of large, lacy white flowers with hints of pink and purple at the center.
Growing the Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle
Size and Appearance
The Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle starts the year with bold foliage in spring. The leaves are glossy, 2 inches long and 1 inch wide, and produced densely along the stems. These grow rapidly upwards to form an upright, rounded crown. Flowering begins in late July, and continues until at least the end of September, and often into October, depending on your growing zone. The showy flowers are carried in large clusters at the ends of the branches, and each cluster stays in flower for around two weeks. As it fades it is rapidly replaced by new flowering shoots, so your plant will be in bloom continuously. The flower clusters are rounded, and about 5 inches long, containing many individual flowers. These are rich purple in bud, and open pure white, so that the open flowers contrast strongly with the buds. The white flowers really stand out against the purple foliage, and they make a beautiful contrast that will brighten your garden and blend with all other flower and foliage colors.
Using the Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle in Your Garden
One of the largest of the purple-leaf crape myrtles, this plant, reaching 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide, is an ideal small tree for a smaller garden, or a large shrub if you have plenty of garden space for a variety of plants. Because it brings both colored foliage and months of vibrant contrasting flower color too, it is ideal if you only have room for one or two larger plants in your garden. Grow it as specimen in a lawn or patio, as a row along a boundary or for screening, or plant it as background to smaller shrubs. You will find many perfect spots to grow such a colorful and easy plant.
Hardiness
The Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle is hardy in zones 7, 8 and 9. It may also grow in zone 6, but with some winter damage, and re-sprout from the roots. It will grow 4 to 6 feet tall in the season when this happens.
Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions
Full sun is best for good results. Reduced flowering and greener leaves will be the result of growing it in the shade. Any well-drained soil is suitable, and once established this plant is drought tolerant and reliable even in hot, dry places.
Maintenance and Pruning
You can encourage continuous bloom by removing spend flower clusters as the last flower falls. Cut back just to the first leaf – new shoots will soon emerge and bloom. Stop doing this in early fall, so that you also get a crop of those handsome seed pods. You can trim your Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle in late winter or early spring, before or at the same time as new growth emerges. To keep a smaller, more compact form, trim hard, cutting the previous-years growth back to just a couple of inches. For a larger bush, just remove the top section of the branches, and any broken or weak growth. Do not trim new shoots, as this will delay or prevent flowering, which happens on the ends of new branches.
History and Origin of the Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle
The Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle is the product of careful breeding by experts in creating new varieties of ornamental plants. This plant was created in 2010 by Joshua Kardos, a breeder with Plant Introductions Inc. He used an earlier dark-leaf crape myrtle, ‘Chocolate Mocha’, developed in a state-financed breeding program at Mississippi State University. Kardos collected seed from this plant, grew it, and found the plant he called ‘PIILAG-V’ among the seedlings. Seeing its unique and valuable properties, he patented it in 2015, and it was released by Bailey Nurseries under the trademarked name of Midnight Magic™, as part of their First Editions® plant line.
Buying the Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle at the Tree Center
Skilled growers take stem pieces of these plants, with licensed permission of the patent holder, and grow them into the sturdy bushes we will ship to you. These plants cannot be compared to common crape myrtles, and you will love the vibrant contrast of pure white flowers against that deep purple foliage. This vigorous plant is always healthy, and resistant to common diseases. At the Tree Center we specialize in the best crape myrtles, and our limited stock will not last long. Order now while we can satisfy your order – you won’t regret it.
Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle
With bold hues of burgundy foliage and white blooms, the Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle makes for a stunning addition to any yard. The plant's compact growth habits and small nature make it ideal for smaller yards and gardens.
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These flowers bloom throughout the summer, providing a breathtaking display of color and adding a touch of elegance to any garden. The blooms are also highly attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, making it a great choice for those who wish to attract wildlife to their gardens. One of the standout features of this variety of crape myrtle is its resistance to common diseases such as powdery mildew and leaf spot. Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle is known for its robustness and ability to withstand various environmental conditions, making it a low-maintenance plant for gardeners. When it comes to caring for Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle, it is relatively easy to grow and maintain. It prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. Regular watering during the initial establishment period is essential, but once established, it can tolerate dry conditions. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring to maintain its shape and promote healthy growth. Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle is a versatile and beautiful shrub that can be used in various landscaping applications. Whether planted as a standalone specimen, in mass plantings, or as part of a mixed border, it adds an enchanting touch to any garden. With its stunning flowers, attractive foliage, and disease resistance, this crape myrtle variety is undoubtedly a favorite among gardeners and landscapers alike..
Reviews for "Creating a Nighttime Wonderland with Moonlight Magic Crape Myrtle: Lighting Ideas and Tips"
1. John - 2 stars
I planted the Moonlight Magic crape myrtle in my backyard last year and it has been nothing but disappointing. The plant didn't grow as tall as advertised, and the flowers that did bloom were underwhelming. The color was dull and not as vibrant as I had hoped. Additionally, the foliage was sparse and unattractive. I wouldn't recommend this variety to anyone looking for a stunning and thriving addition to their garden.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I had high hopes for the Moonlight Magic crape myrtle, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to its name. The plant struggled to survive and despite my efforts to provide proper care, it failed to thrive. The flowers were scarce and lacked the vibrant colors promised. The overall appearance of the plant was lackluster and it didn't add any charm to my garden. I would advise others to look for a different crape myrtle variety that is more reliable and visually appealing.
3. Robert - 2 stars
I was really excited to plant the Moonlight Magic crape myrtle in my front yard, but it turned out to be a disappointment. The plant didn't bloom as profusely as I expected, and the flowers that did appear were small and not as fragrant as described. The foliage was also not as dense as I had hoped, giving the plant a sparse and unimpressive look. Overall, I was underwhelmed by the Moonlight Magic crape myrtle and would recommend considering other options for a more impressive garden feature.
4. Emily - 2 stars
The Moonlight Magic crape myrtle fell short of my expectations. The plant struggled to establish itself, and despite regular watering and fertilizing, it didn't show significant growth. The few flowers that bloomed were lackluster and didn't create the visual impact I had envisioned. The overall appearance of the plant was unimpressive and failed to add any charm or beauty to my landscape. I regret choosing this variety and would advise others to explore different crape myrtle options.