Crepe Myrtle

Crepe Myrtle 'Ruffled Red Magic' (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Ruffled Red Magic') is the crepe myrtle for gardens that cannot spare room for a 6m tree. It holds at about 3m tall and 2m wide, carries ruffled deep red flower trusses right through summer, then colours orange and red before dropping its leaves. The roots are non-invasive, so it can sit near a path or driveway without lifting anything.

Why you'll love it

• Red flowers for months, not weeks. Crinkled scarlet panicles open in early summer and keep coming into autumn.
• It stays small enough for a courtyard. At 3m by 2m this is a compact Magic series selection, not a traditional crepe myrtle that outgrows a suburban block.
• Two seasons from one plant. Summer flower, autumn leaf colour, then bare branches that let winter sun through.
• Low maintenance is the truth here. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant, frost hardy once established and content in poor soil.
• Pet friendly and good for pollinators. Safe where dogs roam, and the summer flowers pull in bees and butterflies.

Where it works best

As a feature in a small garden. A 2m spread suits a front courtyard, a narrow bed or a townhouse lawn. Allow 1.5m clear of a wall or fence.

Along a driveway or entry. Plant 2.5m to 3m apart for a run of separate small trees, or 2m apart if you want the canopies to touch.

In a large pot. A container 500mm or wider holds it near 2m, though potted crepe myrtles dry out fast in January.

Growing crepe myrtle 'Ruffled Red Magic' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, six hours minimum. It performs in subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, so Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and south east Queensland all suit it. The wet tropics do not.

Soil. Any reasonably drained ground, including poor and sandy soil. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound and work compost through the bed. Keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then a good soak every fortnight. After two seasons it handles dry spells alone. One complete slow release feed in early spring is plenty.

Pruning. Prune in late winter while the tree is bare. Remove crossing branches and spent flower heads, and never cut the framework back to stubs.

What to expect when it arrives

This variety is grown in a single size, an advanced 45L plant, so you are buying a tree with real height and a formed head on day one.

Because it is deciduous, stock sent between late autumn and early spring arrives bare or close to it. That is normal, not a fault: buds break as soon as the soil warms. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full crepe myrtle care guide for planting and pruning detail.
• Compare varieties and sizes in the crepe myrtle collection.
• Do crepe myrtles lose their leaves explains the bare winter months.
• More choices for a tight block: plants for small gardens.

Common questions

How big will it really get?

About 3m tall and 2m wide in open ground, roughly half the size of an older variety such as Natchez. Grown in a pot it settles closer to 2m.

Is it safe around dogs?

Yes. Crepe myrtles are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a sound choice for a lawn or courtyard where pets spend their day.

Why has mine not flowered?

Almost always shade or a high nitrogen fertiliser. Give it six hours of direct sun and switch to a complete slow release feed in early spring.

How close to paving can I plant it?

The roots are non-invasive, so 1.5m to 2m from a path or driveway is fine. Just leave room for the 2m canopy.