Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia Indica ‘Twilight’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Tree

Height at Maturity: 15-25′

Width at Maturity: 12-15′
Spacing: 10-12′ for solid warm season privacy screen; 25’+ for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Rounded, Upright, Tall

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: Bright Purple

Flowering Period: All Summer – up to 120 days!

Flower Type: Single flowers in large rounded to elongated clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Rich Green, Bronze new growth
Fall Foliage Color: Yellow, Burgundy, Orange

Fragrant Foliage: No

Bark Color: Grey, Pink, Reddish-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, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Birds

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!

Wow! A year-round color factory, Twilight is one of just a few Crape Myrtle trees with TRUE purple flowers. A plethora of vibrant purple flower clusters appear in early summer and continue through early fall, nearly covering the foliage. The leaves of Twilight emerge in spring displaying a wonderful bronze color turning to a rich green as they mature. Fall brings forth a brilliant show of color including bright yellow, burgundy, and orange leaves. If that’s not enough to please, the smooth gray bark peels off in summer giving way to a light pink bark that darkens to a reddish-brown coloring.

Note: As with most other Crape Myrtle varieties, the flower color of Twilight Purple can vary slightly, ranging from shades of purple when buds open on a sunny day to shades of pinkish to fuchsia-purple when flower buds open on a cloudy day. Too, flower color can change as they age.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing upright to 15 to 25 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide, the Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or in straight or staggered rows to form a screen or delineate a property line or line a driveway. Also a fine selection for use in home foundation plantings to frame corners or as an accent tree. A fine addition to purple theme gardens and bird gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 10 to 12 feet apart for warm season privacy screen; 25 feet or more apart for space between trees

Growing Preferences

Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full to mostly sun. 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. Benefits from pruning when young to form a more dense canopy that produces even more flowers. Learn how to prune the right way here: How To Prune A Crape Myrtle Tree

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!

Arrived in excellent condition, with no damage. Nicely shaped plant. I have ordered from Wilson Bros before, and to date, have been pleased with all my purchases. I planted this about one week after arrival, and it is doing well!————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I received my tree nicely packaged and in perfect shape when it arrived. It is a healthy tree and good size. I just planted it so will be some time before I see it blooming.———————————————————–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

Hello, I am so happy with the Myrtle tree I purchased from you, I just ordered another one! You packaged the tree so well and it is very healthy…looking forward to seeing the blooms this spring!!—————————————————-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

I wanted something different but compatible with the plants in my garden. Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle was the answer. It arrived safely in moist soil and a sturdy box. It was healthy and ready to go into my garden. Highly recommended.—————————————-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 sent this to my childhood friend and she was so delighted. Arrived on time, and it’s beautiful…she planted it the next day and a few days later, it has buds…I will be getting more from this company for myself!——————————————–We are so glad yall are pleased and we hope she enjoys it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Well its in the ground its doing very good even with cold (40-50 %) a lot of leaves.——————————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Nice specimen, Great customer service, Package excellent, Quick shipping. Would buy from again.————————————Hi David, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Received my 3 gal Twilight crape myrtle today. It is right at 6′ tall and GORGEOUS. A truly beautiful tree. I took it out of box , put it in the shade and gave it a good soaking. I could not get over how well it was packaged and arrived sooner than expected. This was my first time to order trees on line. I split my order between Wilson Bros and another well known company. NO COMPARISON…Wilson Bros hands down the winner. You have a customer for life. Highly recommend .——————————————————-Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks so much for the great review!! 🙂
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

The plant is doing well even with a severe drought. Shipping was very fast and the tree arrived in a perfect condition! Tall size about 6ft. Has not bloomed yet, but can’t wait for it!———————Hi Marina, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Twilight Purple Crape Myrtle. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens