Canopy Crepe Myrtle

Canopy Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Canopy') is a dark-leaved crepe myrtle with a wide, spreading habit. It grows 2m to 3m tall and wide, tall enough to screen at head height, with wine-dark leaves and burgundy-pink summer flowers that glow when the sun shines through them.

Why you'll love it

• Dark, dramatic foliage. Wine-dark leaves give strong contrast against green plants and pale walls through the growing season.
• Burgundy-pink flowers. Purple-pink blooms open in summer, and the colours shift as the sun moves through the leaves and petals.
• A wide, spreading shape. It fills out sideways, which suits shade, screening and a sense of mass in a smaller garden.
• Tough once settled. Frost, drought and humidity are all tolerated, so it suits a wide range of Australian climates.
• Good in clay. Crepe myrtles thrive in clay soils, so heavy ground is no obstacle.

Where it works best

Privacy hedging. Plant 2m apart in a row. It reaches over head height, so it screens a seating area or fence line in summer, though as a deciduous plant it is open in winter.

Feature planting. A single plant against a pale wall or silver-leaved shrubs shows off the dark foliage and the burgundy flowers.

Shade in smaller gardens. The spreading canopy shades a patio or seat in summer, and bare stems let the winter sun back in.

Growing Canopy Crepe Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. Dark foliage holds its colour best in strong light, and shade means less colour and fewer flowers. It tolerates frost, drought and humidity, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens.

Soil. Clay is fine, and most other soils that drain suit it. Mulch after planting to keep the roots cool through summer.

Water and feed. Water regularly for the first 8 to 12 weeks until the plant is established, then during dry periods until woody stems develop. Fertilise with a slow release fertiliser twice a year.

Pruning. Prune in autumn after leaf drop for abundant summer flowers and a dense habit, or deadhead after the first flowers to keep an elegant shape and encourage a second flush.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Canopy Crepe Myrtle as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tubes suit a long hedge on a budget, and the 200mm plants give a head start on height. Canopy is deciduous, so in winter plants arrive with bare stems, and the leaves return in spring. Plants travel upright and settle quickly once watered in.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse all our crepe myrtles
• Crepe myrtle care guide: planting, pruning and varieties
• Growing dark-leaved crepe myrtles
• Hedging and screening plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for privacy?

Plant 2m apart in a single row. The wide, spreading habit fills the gaps between plants within a few seasons.

Does it need full sun?

Yes. Full sun keeps the dark foliage deepest and gives the most flowers, while shade dulls the colour and reduces flowering.

Does it lose its leaves in winter?

Yes, it is deciduous. The leaves drop after autumn, and new dark growth appears in spring.