Diamonds in the Dark Mystic Magenta Crepe Myrtle

Diamonds in the Dark 'Mystic Magenta' (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei) is the loudest of the dark leaved crepe myrtles: hot magenta panicles held against burgundy black foliage right through summer. It reaches about 3m tall and 2m wide, around half the size of an older crepe myrtle, which is what makes this series work on a modern block.

Why you'll love it

• Colour you can see from the street. Magenta against near black foliage is the strongest contrast in the series, and it holds all summer.
• Dark leaves earn their keep out of flower. Burgundy black foliage from spring means the plant is doing something for eight months, not six weeks.
• Right sized for a modern block. Three metres by two fits a courtyard, a front bed or a narrow side garden without constant cutting back.
• Tough once established. Fast growing, frost hardy, drought tolerant and heat tolerant, with autumn colour before the leaves drop.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single plant against a light rendered wall or a pale fence is the classic use: the dark foliage and hot flower colour both read against a plain background.

Small gardens and courtyards. Leave about 1.5m clear of a wall for the 2m canopy and it stays in bounds.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 2.5m to 3m apart along a drive, slightly wider than the mature canopy, so each fills out without crowding its neighbour.

Growing Mystic Magenta crepe myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, at least six hours. Shade is the usual reason a crepe myrtle disappoints: fewer flowers, weaker foliage colour and more leaf trouble. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean gardens, though further south flowering starts later and finishes earlier.

Soil. Reasonably drained soil is all it asks. On heavy clay, plant slightly proud of the surrounding level, work compost through the bed, then mulch 75mm deep off the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week over the first summer, then every fortnight in dry weather. Feed once with a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring, since too much nitrogen gives a leafy plant with few flowers.

Pruning. Late winter, while the plant is bare and you can read the structure. Remove crossing wood, shorten last summer's spent flower stems, and leave the framework alone. Flowers come on new growth.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are sold: 200mm pots in packs of six, and single 300mm plants. The packs suit a driveway run or a repeated planting, while the 300mm plant is the one for a single feature, with more height on day one.

Deciduous stock shipped between late autumn and early spring arrives bare, which looks alarming and is not. Buds break once the soil warms. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, with advanced and large stock freighted at cost and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the crepe myrtle care guide for planting and pruning detail
• Do crepe myrtles lose their leaves
• Compare the full crepe myrtle collection
• For purple flowers, see Diamonds in the Dark 'Purely Purple'

Common questions

How is it different from the other Diamonds in the Dark varieties?

Only in flower colour. Mystic Magenta gives the hottest pink of the group, while the rest of the series shares the same near black foliage, size and habit.

Can I train it as a small tree with a clear trunk?

Yes. Select three to five main stems while the plant is young and remove the low side shoots each winter. It lifts into a multi stemmed small tree over a few seasons.

Which size should I order?

For one feature plant, the 300mm. For a driveway or a repeated planting, the 200mm pack of six costs far less per plant and catches up within two seasons.

Does it need much water once established?

No. It is drought tolerant after two seasons and gets by on a deep soak every fortnight through dry spells, though it flowers better with water than without.