Black Diamond ‘Purple Purple’ Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia x ‘Purely Purple’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-10b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-12′

Width at Maturity: 7-8′
Spacing: 5-6′ for solid hedges; 12’+ for space between

Growth Habit / Form: Upright Rounded

Growth Rate: Moderate, Fast

Flower Color: Amethyst Purple
Flowering Period: Summer into Fall!

Flower Type: Single flowers in rounded clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Almost Black Deep Purple
Fall Foliage Color: Black, Maroon

Fragrant Foliage: No

Bark Color: Light Brown

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Moderate Drought, Heat

Description

If you love the color purple like we do, meet ‘Purely Purple’, the newest member of the Black Diamond Crape Myrtle family. Flawless and fade-resistant black foliage emerges in early spring followed by abundant clusters of jewel-toned amethyst purple flowers that start coming in late spring to early summer continuing well into fall. A semi-dwarf that might reach 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide, Purely Purple is a perfect fit for smaller garden spaces or grouped or as a hedge in larger landscape borders.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing to 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet or so wide, the Purely Purple Crape Myrtle is an ideal selection for all size landscape spaces and in containers. It can be grown as a shrub or lower branches can be removed to form a very attractive small tree, making it an excellent choice for use as a specimen or accent in sunny home foundation plantings or landscape borders. Also makes a very colorful hedge and is spectacular in groupings. Whether planted as a specimen or in groupings, this is one plant that is sure to stand out in the landscape! A fine addition to purple or black theme gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 5 to 6 feet apart for a solid hedge; 12 feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

The Purely Purple Crape Myrtle is very easy to grow. It is not picky about soil type provided the soil is well-drained. A moist but well-drained soil of average fertility is preferred. Full sun is preferred and results in heavier flower production. Light shade is tolerated but flowering will be diminished in more shade. Has shown excellent resistance to powdery mildew and is quite drought tolerant when established.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Crape Myrtle trees.

How To Plant A Crape Myrtle In The Ground Or In A Pot
How To Prune a Crape Myrtle Tree the Right Way

How To Fertilize & Water A Crape Myrtle
How To Prune a Dwarf Crape Myrtle
Choosing the Right Crape Myrtle

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us!

I just want to reach out to Wilson brothers. I don’t normally review items but the crape I bought was delivered quick and well packed. You could not have picked it up from a garden center any easier. And I live in northern Ohio. Thanks again.——————————————You are very welcome! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Mine arrived a couple days ago beautifully intact. I love it.——————————————Thanks for the photos! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Love the tree it is well-shaped. Healthy and planted and doing well. The only thing I don’t like is the size it is quite small. It will take quite a while to grow. That is why only 4 star.———————————————————————–Thanks so much for your review. Let us know if there’s ever anything we can help you with. 🙂 – Beth | WBG

Our 10″ tall rounded Bougainville tree was no longer salvageable after Hurricane Ian, so my husband searched the internet for a replacement that would be highly wind and cold tolerant. He came upon Wilson Brothers in Georgia, who offered this Black Diamond Purely Purple Crape Myrtle which fit all of our requirements. They gave a complete explanation about the properties of this tree and how they ship it. No local garden centers had such a tree. Within a few days, we got the notification that the tree was on it’s way. It arrived safely and was planted the following day. We only hope it will be just a gorgeous as the picture!——————————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I’m one who Loves Purple ! But when You have the bright Purple Lacy blooms against the shiny black leaves of this Black Diamond……It’s Heavenly !! I can’t say enough about the Beauty of this small tree !! It arrived in perfect shape, not even any leaves lost from dry out. That’s due to the shipping that Wilson Bro. Gardens provides. You will receive Your order within just a few short days. ( prep time for Your Plants ) and of course it’s always free shipping !! I Promise You will not be disappointed !!—————————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Tree arrived in perfect shape, it was packaged and cared for very well. I planted it the day after receiving it and it appears to be doing well. Unfortunately, I won’t see any flowering until the spring, so I can’t say for sure what it will look like. I am pleased with the purchase so far.———————————————–Keep us posted! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG