Ebony Flame Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia x ‘Ebony Flame’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-10b (6b?) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-12′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′
Spacing: 5′ for solid hedges; 10’+ for space between

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Bushy, Rounded Canopy

Growth Rate: Moderate, Fast

Flower Color: Hot Red

Flowering Period: Summer, Early Fall

Flower Type: Single flowers in rounded clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Black
Fall Foliage Color: Black

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: Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Moderate Drought, Heat

Description

When it comes to flowering trees, there’s simply no others more showy than Crape Myrtles. They bloom for up to 100 days during summer, when there are few other trees and shrubs providing that service in the landscape. Colorful fall foliage and attractive exfoliating bark in winter enhance their overall appeal. It’s no wonder they are so wildly popular among designers and gardeners!

Sporting the darkest black leaves we’ve seen on any Crape Myrtle, or any other shrub or tree for that matter!…the Ebony Flame Crape Myrtle is a new hybrid that becomes smothered with red hot flowers that contrast stunningly with the intense black leaves during summer and into fall. Ebony Flame is a mid-size Crape Myrtle with a fast rate of growth to 10-12 feet in height with a spread of about 6-8 feet – the perfect size flowering tree for today’s smaller gardens!

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing to 10-12 feet tall depending on pruning, and 6-8 feet wide, Ebony Flame Crape Myrtle is an ideal selection for smaller garden spaces, and 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 focal point 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!

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

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b, where this Crape Myrtle variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Ebony Flame 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.