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Red Rocket® Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica (la-ger-STROY-mee-a IN-dih-kuh)

Family: Lythraceae Unknown Understory (15-40 ft)

Red Rocket® Crape Myrtle is a flowering shrub cultivar with brilliant cherry-red flowers and improved disease and pest resistance. It does best in a hot, sunny location. The foliage emerges crimson in the springtime and matures to dark green. The orange and red fall colors finish out the season in a showy display. Pruning should be completed in winter or early spring, as this plant blooms on new wood. A layer of organic mulch will help keep the plant retain moisture. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No notable issues. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common crape myrtle pests and diseases. More information on Lagerstroemia indica .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 40 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 2 - Understory (15-40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Cercis canadensis subsp. texensis 'Traveller' Cotinus obovatus Stewartia monadelpha

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves emerge crimson and mature to dark green. Orange and red fall color.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower detail
Large clusters of cherry-red flowers at the tips of the branches. May rebloom.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Buffer; Colorful; Screening; Textural
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Lawn; Meadow; Patio; Slope/Bank; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden
Design feature
Accent; Barrier; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy; Specimen
Garden tags
#flowering tree #long bloom time #red flowers #specimen #summer flowers #mass planting #year-round interest #urban conditions tolerant #deciduous #heat tolerant #clay soils tolerant #drought tolerant #deer resistant #interesting bark #fall interest
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Crapemyrtle Aphid; Crape Myrtle Pest Management Calendar; Crapemyrtle Flea Beetle; Pests of Crape Myrtle; Crapemyrtle Bark Scale
Resistant to
Diseases; Insect Pests; Urban Conditions

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.