Red Rooster Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia hybrid ‘PIILAG III’ PP#23,178

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6b-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 8-10′

Width at Maturity: 5-6′

Spacing: 5′ for solid hedge; 10’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Upright

Flower Color: True-Red

Flower Size: Large clusters

Flowering Period: Summer

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: NA

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained, Moderately Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought (when established), Heat, Humidity, Mildew

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!

The Red Rooster Crape Myrtle is yet another unique introduction by Dr. Michael A. Dirr that will be a stunning stand out in your landscape. The name alone is a conversation piece! But this selection is way more than just a name. If you love the true-red flowers of the Dynamite Crape Myrtle, but don’t have room for a larger tree, Red Rooster is a mid-size crape myrtle that produces an abundance of brilliant, true-red flower clusters that open from red buds that will have your grandkids rooster-crowing with delight. Deadheading spent flowers encourages rebloom into fall. The deep green leaves are both leaf spot and powdery mildew resistant.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide, the Red Rooster Crape Myrtle is ideal for use as a large shrub or small tree in garden beds or containers. As a shrub it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or as a natural, colorful hedge in sunny landscape borders. As this crape myrtle grows lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive small tree for use as a specimen or in groupings in home foundation plantings and landscape borders. A fine addition to red theme gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 5 feet apart for solid hedge; 10 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 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

The Red Rooster Crape Myrtle is very easy to grow. It is not picky about soil type but prefers a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility. 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 leaf spot and powdery mildew. Deadheading spent flowers encourages rebloom into fall.

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!

So far, so good! Plant was healthy and packaged well. Delivery was quick. Good customer service!
Happy with purchase!——————————————————–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 was delighted to receive this plant in excellent condition.. It was very well packaged & supported to prohibit any damage in transit. Tiny leaves have developed & I know this will be the perfect showcase in the corner of my garden. Excellent quality!——————————————–We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG

I have wanted to include a crape myrtle in my landscape for some time, but have been reluctant because I knew nothing about its requirements. Found everything I needed to know on this site, and decided to give one a try. Plant was very securely packaged and packed, and arrived here in very good order. It is well shaped and very healthy, and had no problems in planting it. Am now looking forward to seeing it in bloom. An excellent experience all the way through, and Wilson Bros. has a repeat customer. ——————– WBG Reply: Hi Richard: Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Red Rooster Crape Myrtle and for all your compliments. Also happy to hear all the planting and care information on the site was helpful to you. We hope you enjoy this beautiful crape myrtle for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can do for you! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens