Zuni Purple Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia Indica x Fauriei ‘Zuni’

Other Common Names: Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle

Plant Details

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

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Tree

Height at Maturity: 15-20′

Width at Maturity: 12-15′
Spacing: 10-12′ for solid hedge; 20′ for space between plants

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

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: Bright Purple

Flowering Period: All Summer in to Fall – up to 120 days!

Flower Type: Single flowers in large rounded to elongated 8″ clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Forest Green
Fall Foliage Color: Orange, Red-Maroon

Fragrant Foliage: No

Bark Color: Light Brown, Tan, White

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 showier 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!

‘Zuni’ is one of the few Crape Myrtle trees with true purple flowers. If a stunning floral display is your number one criteria, Zuni should be at the top of the list. It produces an abundance of large, bright purple flower clusters throughout summer. The foliage of Zuni is forest green during the season and turns to shades of orange and red-maroon in the fall. Its bark is light brown to tan-white in color. We planted two of these beauties at the entryway of our nursery way back in 1989. At maturity, they now stand 15 to 20 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide. Hands down, one of if not our favorite of larger growing crape myrtles.

Because Zuni is a ‘Fauriei Hybrid’ it is totally resistant to powdery mildew; an unsightly disease which shows up during summer as a white powdery substance that covers the leaves on many other types of crape myrtle.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing to 15 to 20 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide, Zuni Crape Myrtle is ideal for use as a focal-point specimen, in groupings, or in straight or staggered rows to form a screen or delineate a property line or line a driveway. It’s also a fine selection for use in landscaped islands, to frame corners in home foundation plantings, and to mark and frame entryways. A fine addition to purple color theme gardens and bird gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 10 to 12 feet apart for solid hedge; 20 feet or more apart for space between trees

Growing Preferences

Zuni 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!

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