Red Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica Red, also known as Red Crape Myrtle, is native to China, Korea, Japan, and the Indian continent and is a welcome addition to the UK.

Its dark, glossy green leaves almost give it the appearance of an evergreen. As autumn approaches, these take on a flame red/orange colour. Lagerstroemia also has a stunning bark, mottled with grey and pink. This bark routinely sheds to reveal further colour.

The flowers appear at the end of a hot summer and are bright red for this cultivar, with the characteristic crimpled petals of the species.

Although Crape Myrtles are not considered to be fully hardy in some colder areas of the UK, we have seen some impressive floral displays at our nursery in Cambridgeshire, and they seem to be faring well in the cold winters, too. With this in mind, this tree is more suited to the south of the country in a sheltered, south-facing position.

Mature height: 3-7m

Common names

Red Crape Myrtle

Height of tree

3-7m

Soil type

Well drained, Will tolerate most soil types

Shape

Rounded

Foliage Colour

Green

Information Flags

Good for bees

Looks good in

Autumn

Location

Garden

Genus

Lagerstroemia

Autumn Colour

Yes