Diamonds in the Dark Blush Crepe Myrtle

Diamonds in the Dark Blush Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Diamonds in the Dark Blush') gives a small garden real impact. It holds near black foliage from spring through autumn and carries soft blush pink flowers right through the warm months. At around 3m tall and 2.5m wide it stays in scale with a courtyard or a narrow front garden.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that does the work. Leaves emerge deep burgundy and hold near black all season, so the plant reads as a feature even out of flower.
• A long flowering season. Blush pink blooms open through summer, and each flush lasts weeks rather than days.
• Small garden scale. Around 3m by 2.5m, so it fits beside a path or a pool fence without constant cutting back.
• Safe near paving and pets. The roots are fibrous and non-invasive, and crepe myrtles are not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One plant against a rendered wall or a pale fence gives the dark foliage something to work against. It holds a neat multi stemmed shape as it matures.

Screening rows. Plant 1.5m apart for a row that closes over. It is deciduous, so treat it as a summer screen rather than year round privacy.

Pots and driveways. A pot 500mm or wider suits a courtyard or balcony. Along a driveway, 2m spacing lets each plant show its trunks.

Growing Diamonds in the Dark Blush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, all day if you can manage it. Shade dulls the dark leaf colour and cuts flowering badly. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost hardy because it stands bare through winter.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil that drains. Work compost through the backfill and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems. It sulks where the ground stays wet.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first summer, after which it is genuinely drought tolerant. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring covers the year. In humid districts, keep the canopy open so air moves through it.

Pruning. Flowers form on new wood, so prune in late winter while the branches are bare. Shortening last season's growth by about a third keeps the habit compact and the flowering heavy.

What to expect when it arrives

This variety is grown in one size: 200mm pots supplied in packs of six. That suits a screening row or a group planting rather than a single feature, and plants at this size are young, well branched and quick to move once they are in the ground.

If yours arrives between late autumn and early spring it will be leafless. That is dormancy, not a fault, and new leaves appear as the soil warms. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The crepe myrtle care guide covers pruning and feeding.
• Tips for growing dark leaved crepe myrtles.
• Compare flower colours across the crepe myrtle range.
• Browse other plants for small gardens.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Set plants 1.5m apart in a single row. Any closer and the lower stems shade each other, which thins the base. Remember the screen thins out over winter.

Does it really lose its leaves?

Yes. The foliage colours before it drops in autumn, and the bare trunks are part of the appeal. Leaf out is usually complete by mid spring.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, in a pot at least 500mm wide with free draining mix. Potted plants settle nearer 2m and need watering through summer heat, though flowering is unaffected.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Crepe myrtles are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this suits a garden with pets. Bees work the flowers heavily, which is worth knowing near a play area.