Ebony & Ivory Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia x ‘Ebony & Ivory’

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: White
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!

Ebony & Ivory is an exciting new Crape Myrtle hybrid that has the darkest black leaves we’ve seen on any Crape Myrtle, or any other shrub or tree for that matter! During summer and into fall, Ebony & Ivory is smothered with white flowers and yellow stamens that contrast stunningly with the intense black leaves. The leaves maintain black color throughout the season until Fall when they drop for the winter. Ebony & Ivory 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 or so wide, Ebony & Ivory 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 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′ for solid hedge; 10′ for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this Crape Myrtle is not 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 & Ivory 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 love ordering from Wilson Brothers even though I live in Arizona. I can not find the quality of plants that Wilson carries, plus the customer service is so professional.—————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I just received my Ebony & Ivory crape myrtle.
What a perfect plant. Packaging was outstanding. Customer service A1.
Thanks!—————————————-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

We are very pleased with the plant we purchased. It was packaged well and arrived in good shape – healthy and with a few blooms already. We’ve really enjoyed looking out and seeing it in our yard as it continues to blossom. This was the first time we purchased a plant online but won’t be the last. In fact, we have already placed a second order for additional plants. We expect Wilson to be our ‘go-to’ when looking for plants in the future.————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the repeat business and thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The myrtles arrived in perfect condition. I love the ebony foliage and can’t wait to see the contrast of the white flowers with the first blooms.
The order process was quick as was the shipping of the order. Awesome company. Will be ordering from Wilson Brothers in the future !———————————–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

The crape myrtle arrived beautiful and healthy. Thank you. Wonderful service and delivery.———————————-Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

Purchased this crape myrtle from Wilson Bros along with several others – they are varieties that we cannot find locally. We were nervous about ordering online and sight unseen, but they arrived quickly, in pots, packed very well and in excellent shape. Looking forward to when they start blooming! We will be ordering more plants from Wilson Bros. in the future.———————Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG

Came quickly.
Very well packed.
Healthy.
A little more expensive than local nursery, BUT well worth the price since NO ONE in our area had any.
Can’t wait for it to bloom.
Will definitely buy from Wilson Bros. again.———————————WBG Reply: Hi Donna, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Ebony & Ivory Crape Myrtle. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens