The curse of shadows and thorns is a dark and mysterious topic that has captured the imagination of many. It is believed by some to be a powerful and potent curse, while others dismiss it as mere folktale. But is this curse truly as zesty as its name suggests? The origins of the curse trace back to ancient folklore, where it is said to have been cast by a vengeful witch. According to the legends, anyone who falls under the curse will be plagued by shadows that follow them everywhere, obscuring the light and bringing forth misfortune. In addition, thorns are said to grow on the cursed individual, causing them pain and representing the hardships they must endure. While these elements certainly make for a dramatic and intriguing tale, the question remains: is the curse of shadows and thorns actually a potent force? While it is impossible to definitively prove or disprove the existence of such a curse, skeptics argue that it is nothing more than a creation of human imagination and superstition.

Ruffled Red Magic Crape Myrtle

NOTE - For all plants currently listed in Quart size ( 1 QT ) and Trade Gallon ( 2.5 QT ) nursery pots. we will be removing plants from plastic pots and placing in fabric grow bags for shipping. this will begin on certain products NOW as we run trials but should be in full effect very soon - Deliveries to CA, OR, WA, AZ, UT, ID, NV, MT, ND, SD will be shipped Bareroot.

First Editions® Plum Magic Crapemyrtle

Do you love crape myrtles but hate the diseases associated with them? Meet the new and improved First Editions® Magic™ Crape Myrtle Series. These crape myrtles showcase new color combinations, compact size, and disease resistance.

The Plum Magic Crape Myrtle produces an abundance of crinkly, pink blooms July to September. New growth starts out red in the spring before turning green in the summer. An additional perk of the Magic Series Crape Myrtles is the size.

A smaller and more compact Crape Myrtle, this tree easily transforms into a nice hedge with its round, bushy form. Growing only 6 to 8 feet high makes this a perfect, compact ornamental tree to dress up any landscape. Not only is this tree bursting with color and compact, but it is also resistant to disease.

Compact, dense, and colorful, this tree/shrub variation of the Crape Myrtle is absolutely stunning. Give it sunlight and good drainage and it will take off with little maintenance. Sit back and relax and let this show stopping Crape Myrtle perform magic before your eyes!

Crape Myrtle Tree Comparisons

Variety	Flower Color	Bloom Time	Zones	Height (ft)	Width (ft)	Growth Rate
Black Diamond Best Red	Red	July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 12	8	1 - 2ft / yr
Black Diamond Crimson Red	Red	July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 15	8	3 - 4ft / yr
Black Diamond Mystic Magenta	Magenta	Early July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 12	6-10	3 - 4ft / yr
Black Diamond Purely Purple	Purple	July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 15	6 - 10	3 - 4ft / yr
Black Diamond Red Hot	Red	Early July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 15	6-10	3 - 4ft / yr
Black Diamond Shell Pink	Pink	Early July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 12	6-10	3 - 4ft / yr
Catawba	Violet Purple	July to Late Sept	7 - 9	15	12	1 - 2ft / yr
Coral Magic	Salmon Pink	Late June to July	7 - 9	6 - 8	6-8	0.5 - 1ft / yr
Dynamite	Cherry Red	Early July to Oct	7 - 9	15 - 25	15	2 - 3ft / yr
Muskogee	Lavender	June to Oct	7 - 11	25 - 30	20	3 - 5ft / yr
Natchez	White	June to Oct	7 - 10	20 - 30	20	3 - 5ft / yr
Pink Velour	Deep Pink	Early July to Sept	7 - 10	8 - 10	10	0.5 - 1ft / yr
Plum Magic	Pink	Late June to July	7 - 9	6 - 8	6-8	0.5 - 1ft / yr
Purple Magic	Dark Purple	Late June to July	7 - 9	6 - 8	6-8	0.5 - 1ft / yr
Red Rocket	Red	July to Oct	7 - 9	20 - 30	15	3 - 5ft / yr

First Editions® Plum Magic Crapemyrtle Care

Be sure you choose the right location and have the appropriate conditions for your new Plum Magic Crape Myrtle to thrive. Luckily Crape Myrtles are pretty easy to grow and don't require much maintenance at all. If you follow growing zone guidelines for your particular variety you can plant your crape myrtle just about any time of year. Plum Magic Crape Myrtles grow in zones 7-9.

These trees prefer full sun, but can tolerate some shade and are adaptable to just about any soil as long as it is well-draining. Crape Myrtles do enjoy a slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 5.0 or 6.5 being ideal, but as long as your soil isn't extremely alkaline there is no need to modify it. Mulching with a 2-3 inch layer of pine straw or pine bark is ideal for crape myrtles. Do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk as these increases the chances of pests and disease. Mulching helps keep soil moist and protects roots during temperature extremes. Crape Myrtles should be watered deeply about 2 times per week after planting for about 3 months. After this establishment period, water deeply about once weekly when conditions are dry. Crape Myrtles are drought tolerant once established. Fertilize in early spring and when planting to give your tree a boost and help it achieve the best blooms. Choose a balanced, slow release fertilizer. If you know your soil is on the basic side choose a fertilizer that is for acid loving plants. Crape Myrtles do not generally require pruning, but if needed, prune when they are dormant to remove any dead, dying, or crowded branches. Avoid the need to over prune your tree by choosing a variety that fits best in your chosen spot. You can choose a variety that is only 5 feet tall up to varieties that grow over 30 feet tall. Magic series Crape Myrtles grow up to 10 feet tall and wide.

The best way to prevent disease and pests is by providing the appropriate care for your plants. Proper location choice, watering and fertilization are the keys to your success. There are not many pests or diseases that cause severe problems for crape myrtles. Aphids are one of the few pests that attack crape myrtles. Minor infections aren't likely to cause problems, but a severe infection can weaken your tree. You can treat aphids naturally with horticultural oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap. For severe infections use pesticides like carbaryl, also known as Sevin. The Magic series crape myrtles are extremely resistant to Powdery Mildew and other diseases.

Landscape ideas

The Magic series of Crape Myrtles will look great anywhere in your landscape. The colorful bloom clusters are sure to brighten up your yard. The mature size is only 6-8 feet tall and wide so be mindful of this when choosing a spot for this tree-shrub. The Crape Myrtles in the Magic series look great as single specimens planted in your yard and provide a wonderful focal point for a bed or garden. This variety tends to grow more like a large, full bush than a tree. This Crape Myrtle will also look great framing your front door or the front entrance of your driveway. Plant 1 on each side and watch your house turn into a home. Another stellar look for these shrub-like crape myrtles is a grouped hedge or cluster. You will love the color and beauty this will add to your yard. Planting your flowering trees about 5 or 6 feet apart can even provide privacy in spring, summer and fall.

For additional options, be sure to browse our Crape Myrtle and Dwarf tree collection.

Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle

The Midnight Magic™ Crape Myrtle has rich, purple-red foliage that holds it color from the moment it appears in spring, right through to the end of fall. It grows just 4 to 6 feet tall, so it fits perfectly into a smaller garden, or as a medium-sized shrub in a larger garden. Plant it alone, or in a group, for a steady supply of color. By July the first deep pink blooms will appear, making a vibrant contrast with the foliage. These persist throughout summer and well into fall. This easily grown shrub is invaluable for those hot, sunny spots in your garden, and in dry areas with poor soil. You will love the seasons of color and interest this plant delivers, while asking almost nothing in care from you.

Constant color from deep purple-red foliage
Dark pink flowers from July through September
Tough, reliable and drought-resistant
Leaves are always glossy and free of diseases
Ideal size for smaller gardens or mass planting

Plant the Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle in full sun, for the best foliage color and continuous blooms. It thrives in any well-drained soil, including sands and gravels, as well as clay soil. Once established it is very drought resistant, and its leaves will stay clean and disease free, even during hot, humid weather, because it is highly resistant to the common diseases of crape myrtles. Use it among other shrubs, as a short screen or informal hedge, or as a container plant on your terrace. However and wherever you grow it, you will love the ease with which it delivers color from spring to fall.

In warmer areas – zones 7, 8 and 9 – crape myrtles have a long history as the backbone of summer flowering trees and shrubs. With their long flowering period, heat and humidity resistance, and ability to grow in poor soil, they are an easy and very effective way to bring color into your summer garden. There are just two limitations – first, in spring they are just green foliage, and secondly, they are prone to foliage diseases in summer that make them less attractive.

The Midnight Magic™ Crape Myrtle is a new variety which solves both these problems, as well as being the perfect size for smaller gardens and mass planting. In spring, when the new leaves emerge, they are a rich dark-red/purple color, and unlike most other red-leaf crape myrtle varieties, this saturated dark coloring lasts throughout the season. Because it is highly-resistant to the common leaf diseases of crape myrtles, these handsome leaves stay clean and glossy all summer long. Plus, from early July well into September, the bush is smothered in clusters of blooms of a vibrant dark pink color. This strong coloring contrasts beautifully with the foliage, making a striking feature out of this easy-to-grow plant.

While these elements certainly make for a dramatic and intriguing tale, the question remains: is the curse of shadows and thorns actually a potent force? While it is impossible to definitively prove or disprove the existence of such a curse, skeptics argue that it is nothing more than a creation of human imagination and superstition. They point to the lack of scientific evidence supporting the existence of curses and note that many supposed victims of the curse can be explained by natural causes or psychological factors. Moreover, the curse's similarities to other folklore tropes, such as the concept of a cursed object or the idea of a witch's curse, further support the notion that it is a creation of human myths and legends.

Growing Midnight Magic™ Crape Myrtle

The Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle grows rapidly into a full, densely-branched shrub, 4 to 6 feet tall and the same across. In spring the new leaves emerge a rich purple-red that is almost black, with a clean, glossy surface. This desirable foliage color really adds a punch to your garden, so that even before it flowers this plant is bringing vibrant color to your garden.

By July the first clusters of blooms appear. These clusters are 4 ½ inches long and 3 ½ inches wide, containing many deep-purple flower buds. They open into broad flowers with crinkled petals, like crepe paper. These are a dark, rich purple-pink, in a very vibrant shade, which contrasts perfectly with the deeply colored foliage. Each cluster is in bloom for two weeks, and even before it fades, new clusters are being produced, so that this bush will stay in flower throughout the summer and through September. Often blooms will still be being produced when the first frost arrives.

Uses in Your Garden

Because of its compact size, the Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle is the perfect choice for a smaller garden, or for planting in a row to make an informal hedge or screen. It can be mass-planted to fill garden spaces with colorful, easy-care plants that bring color for month after month. Grow it in a sunny spot, as even a little shade will cause fading of the foliage, and reduced flowering. It is very undemanding for soil, growing vigorously in any well-drained soil, from sands and gravels to heavy clay. Few other plants are so easy to grow while offering so much color for so long. You can also grow the Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle in a large pot or planter, where it will stay a little smaller, but bring lots of color to your patio or terrace.

Pests and Diseases

The Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle has been bred to be resistant to common diseases of crape myrtles, especially powdery mildew, that always covers the leaves of older varieties with unsightly gray-white powder in summer. Your plant will still fresh, glossy and rich green all summer long. It is also resistant to the more serious Cercospora leaf spot fungus, which causes spotting of leaves in summer and early leaf drop, leaving plants bare and unsightly by early fall. You do not need to worry about either of these diseases, because the Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle has been bred to resist them.

Care and Maintenance

You can trim this plant in late winter, before the new shoots emerge. Trimming hard, by cutting the branches of the previous year back to just a few inches, will produce a shorter, densely-branched, compact plant. Light trimming, or just removing any damaged or weak branches, will result in a taller, more upright plant. Removing flower heads as soon as the last flower fades will encourage even more flowers to form, over a longer period.

On the other hand, believers argue that the curse's effects are real, even if they cannot be explained by science. They assert that countless individuals throughout history have claimed to experience the curse's effects, and these testimonies should not be dismissed lightly. Ultimately, whether the curse of shadows and thorns is truly zesty or not depends on one's perspective. For those who believe in the supernatural and embrace the power of folklore, the curse holds a certain allure and intrigue. For others, it is nothing more than a fictional tale created to entertain and frighten..

Reviews for "The Curse of Shadows and Thorns: A Zest Enigma"

1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Curse of Shadows and Thorns Zesty". The storyline felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. The game also had numerous technical glitches which made it frustrating to play. I expected more from a game with such promising visuals and concept. Overall, it failed to live up to the hype and left me feeling underwhelmed.

2. Sarah - 1/5 - I found "Curse of Shadows and Thorns Zesty" to be a complete waste of time. The gameplay was repetitive and boring, with no real challenges or excitement. The graphics were mediocre at best, and the dialogue was so poorly written that it was cringe-worthy. It felt like a rushed, low-budget game with no thought put into it. I regret spending money on this disappointing experience.

3. David - 2/5 - As an avid gamer, I was excited to try "Curse of Shadows and Thorns Zesty", but it fell short of my expectations. The controls were clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to navigate through the game. The voice acting was equally disappointing, with flat and uninspired performances. The overall experience felt lackluster and failed to capture my attention. I would not recommend this game to any serious gamers looking for a compelling and engaging experience.

4. Lisa - 2/5 - "Curse of Shadows and Thorns Zesty" was a huge letdown for me. The plot was predictable and unimaginative, and the puzzles were too easy. I was hoping for a more challenging and immersive gameplay, but it felt like a generic, cookie-cutter game. It lacked originality and failed to offer any compelling moments. Overall, I was bored throughout the entire playthrough, and I don't plan on replaying it or recommending it to others.

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