Red flowering crape myrtle

In the Southern U.S. crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) provide summer long flowering. In the garden center business there is a popular saying: “red flowers sell”. Among crape myrtles red flowering cultivars generally outsell all others.

Probably the most popular red variety is Dynamite®, a Carl Whitcomb introduction. Dr. Whitcomb followed with other red introductions of different sizes – Red Rocket®, Tightwad Red® and Siren Red®. The U.S. National Arboretum released ‘Arapaho’ and ‘Cheyenne’.

When deciding which red to plant, select a variety that is the appropriate size at maturity for the site. Your choices are: dwarf types (low 3 to 4 feet), semi-dwarf types (4 to 12 feet), and intermediate shrub and tree types (12 to 30 feet in height). All listed cultivars are reliably root hardy in zone 6-b and above-ground hardy in zone 7-b.

Some cultivars strut better disease and pest resistance, magnificent fall leaf color, and awesome exfoliating winter bark.

Dwarf Red-Flowered Crape Myrtles (up to 4 feet tall)

Cherry Dazzle^® – low mounding shrub habit 

Petite Red Imp™ – rounded head shrub

Tightwad Red^® –  rounded shrub with dense foliage

Victor – dwarf upright branching shrub

Semi-Dwarf Red-Flowered Crape Myrtles (from 4 to 12 feet tall)

Cheyenne – 8-10 feet tall rounded head shrub

Christiana – 8-10 feet tall upright vase-shaped shrub

Siren Red^® – 10-12 feet tall upright branching shrub 

Tonto – 8-10 feet tall vase-shaped shrub

Intermediate Shrub Size Red-Flowered Crape Myrtles (over 12 feet tall)

Arapaho – 20 feet tall upright branching shrub or small tree

Centennial Spirit – 10-20 feet tall stiff upright branching shrub

Dynamite^® – 10-15 feet tall stiff upright branching shrub

Red Rocket^® – 15-20 feet tall upright branching shrub.