Ebony Flame Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia x ‘Ebony Flame’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-10b 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 – more info, 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.

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!

Came well packaged and healthy—————————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Item arrived securely packaged and healthy. It is growing and no issues so far. This was selected for the darkest leaves and bright red blooms so I can’t wait til it matures more with the blooms———————————————————————————–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

A lovely Crepe Myrtle Bush. Good size, and in excellent shape. Will be a beautiful addition to our garden.————————————-We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

As soon as I planted my gorgeous Ebony Flame crape Myrtles they burst out with new black leaves. I m very excited for next year when the flaming red flowers contrast with the ebony foliage. I am a huge fan of Wilson Bros not only for the fabulous, healthy plants they produce but for the knowledgeable and friendly customer service. ———————– WBG Reply: Hi Amber – Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Ebony Flame Crape Myrtle and for your compliments! It makes everything we do even more worth the while. We hope you enjoy this awesome crape myrtle for years to come! Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service. – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

I ordered and received 2 of the Ebony Flame crape myrtles. They arrived fast and in great condition, very healthy. I can’t wait to see the red blooms against the dark leaves. I love shopping with Wilson Brothers! ——————- WBG Reply: Hi Amy: Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Ebony Flame Crape Myrtles, and for the compliments. We hope you enjoy these colorful beauties for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can do for you. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

The plant arrived very quickly and was in good condition in its box. I was a little disappointed that it didn’t have as many branches as I expected, but hopefully it will begin to grow some more in the spring. We have it planted in a protected corner so cold weather shouldn’t hurt it. ——— WBG Reply: Hi Charlotte – Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review. Sorry to hear you were a little dissapointed with the number of branches. At the time we pulled and shipped your Ebony Flame crape myrtle we were into our second and new crop for the season. Just can’t grow enough of these and never have any leftovers. It should put out lots of new growth next spring. In any event, I’ll have Spencer send you a discount coupon you can use on your next order to compensate for the smaller size. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

Thanks so much for my ebony flame crape myrtle. Couldn’t be happier. Quick delivery , excellent packaging. Healthy and beautiful. Hope to enjoy it for years to come in our new home. Thanks. ——— WBG Reply: Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review. We too hope you get to enjoy this magnificent tree for years to come! I often ask the question: When is the last time you saw a dead crape myrtle?:-) Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. Plant long and prosper! – Brent Wilson | Wilson Bros Gardens

Item arrived on time, beautifully packed and with great planting instructions. It is now happily placed in my back garden. We are just on the edge of the recommended planting zone, so hoping for a mild first winter. After that it should be OK, because the new addition is in a fairly sheltered spot. I was surprised to see flowering already! ——— WBG Response: Hi Gilbert – Thanks so much for taking the time to provide us and future visitors to Wilson Bros Gardens with your review. Glad you’re getting to see the flowers and how bright they are against the dark foliage…the Ebony Flame Crape Myrtle blooms at a very young age. Though this one is cold hardy to 0 degrees F, to be on the safe side during the first winter, if temperatures are forecast to drop much below 20 degrees F it wouldn’t be a bad idea to wrap the tree in a heavy blanket or something to provide some insulation. Too, you can always apply a thick coat of pine or wheat straw or a shredded wood mulch around the tree to help insulate the roots. But let’s hope you have a mild winter and don’t have to take any of these measures:-) Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent Wilson | Wilson Bros Gardens

Very nicely branched. Can’t wait for the leaves to show in spring. Impressed with the packaging and speedy delivery.

Arrived in good condition and hope to be happy with the plant as it matures. We will see what we see next Spring.

Received plant quickly and in good condition. I can’t wait to see it bloom. Thanks