Lagerstroemia indica Ruffled Red Magic® - Crape myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica 'Piilag VII' Ruffled Red Magic® is a variety of Crape Myrtle with ornamental foliage and stunning flowering. The vibrant, bright red flowers bloom all summer and can rebloom in autumn. The red spring growth then turns to a very pleasant, glossy dark green, creating a beautiful contrast with the flowers. In autumn, it takes on superb red and orange tones. This fairly tall Lagerstroemia can reach 3 to 4 m in height, developing an upright silhouette. With age, its bark becomes very ornamental; it is truly a four-season plant! Relatively hardy, it appreciates sunny positions.

Crape Myrtle belongs to the Lythraceae family, which is rich with over 600 species, and whose flagship genus is Lythrum (purple loosestrife), an extremely hardy herbaceous plant found throughout Europe. Woody species, however, are mainly represented in the wild in the tropics or warm climates, for instance, the Pomegranate. This is also the case for Lagerstroemias, whose forty species are native to tropical Asia. Nevertheless, Lagerstroemia indica, or Crape Myrtle, which despite its name comes from China and Japan, shows good frost resistance, down to about -15°C in well-drained soil and in a position sheltered from cold winds.
Crape Myrtle Ruffled Red Magic® is a horticultural variety, interesting for its deciduous foliage whose colours vary with the season, as well as for its exceptional flowering. The bush grows quite quickly, adopting an upright habit, clearly taller than wide compared to other cultivars. In 10 years of cultivation, it will reach 3 m in height and 1.50 to 1.80 m in width, and without pruning, it will peak at around 4 m tall. Its foliage, formed of small elliptical leaves, is classic, but it emerges in a fine red hue. Gradually, the leaves then evolve towards a dark green, enhanced by a glossy, almost shiny surface texture. This dark vegetation serves as a setting for the bright flowering, all the more so as it is not very susceptible to powdery mildew, that fungus which forms an unsightly white film on the leaf surface. In summer, large clusters of bright red flowers bloom at the ends of the shoots. These inflorescences are formed of numerous small flowers, with five petals with a very crinkled border, whose appearance is reminiscent of crepe. The main flowering period spans July-August, and if care is taken to remove the faded clusters, a second flowering reappears in late summer and early autumn. When the first cold nights arrive, the foliage turns red and orange, thus beautifully concluding the growing season. The shrub retains its interest in winter, especially as it ages, because its beige bark becomes marbled with pink or chamois-coloured veins, giving it a very decorative appearance.

Lagerstroemia Ruffled Red Magic® is a superb plant easily cultivable in many regions. It needs warmth and a sunny exposure to flower well, appreciating some watering in summer. Like other varieties, it lends itself well to annual pruning to keep it smaller. Nevertheless, it is a bit too vigorous to be grown in a container, but there is already a beautiful range of Crape Myrtles for pots. With ornamental foliage, flowering, and bark, you will be spoilt for choice to create aesthetic scenes in the garden. Plant next to it an Abelia grandiflora 'Tricolor Charm' with green, cream, and pink foliage to create a lovely foliage contrast. With a white Hibiscus which will flower at the same time, you will benefit from both a superb colour combination and radically different flower morphologies. And by planting a Rubus thibetanus 'Silver Fern' you will obtain not only a very refined foliage opposition due to its greyish-green, fern-like leaves, but also a beautiful winter scene, the white stems of this ornamental bramble echoing the creamy brown of your Crape Myrtle.