Pinky Pink™ Crepe Myrtle

Pinky Pink Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Pinky Pink') is a petite crepe myrtle, only about 1.2m tall and wide, that stays full and bushy right to the ground. Wine-dark leaves set off vibrant purple-pink flowers through summer, and the dense habit suits cottage gardens, low hedges and pots.

Why you'll love it

• Genuinely compact. At 1.2m by 1.2m it fits where a full-size crepe myrtle never could.
• Dark leaves, bright flowers. Wine-dark foliage makes the purple-pink flowers pop, and the colours change as the sun glows through.
• Very dense and bushy. The habit is full from the base, so it looks complete rather than leggy.
• Great in containers. Its size suits a large pot on a patio or courtyard.
• Frost, drought and humidity tolerant. A tough plant for something so small, suited to a wide range of Australian climates.

Where it works best

Cottage gardens and borders. Plant 80cm apart among perennials and roses, where it adds dark foliage and summer colour.

Low hedges. Plant 80cm apart in a row for a low flowering hedge about 1.2m high. It is deciduous, so it is bare in winter.

Pots and containers. A large container with good drainage keeps it close to a doorway or seat. Water pots more often than garden beds through summer.

Growing Pinky Pink 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. In a pot, use a quality potting mix and keep the drainage holes clear.

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 Pinky Pink Crepe Myrtle as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and in 300mm pots, sold singly. Tubes suit a row of low hedging, while the larger pots give an instant, bushy plant for a pot or border. Pinky Pink 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
• Plants for small gardens

Common questions

How big does it get?

About 1.2m tall and 1.2m wide, which makes it one of the most compact crepe myrtles you can buy.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. It suits a large container with good drainage and full sun. Keep the water up through summer and feed twice a year.

When should I prune it?

Prune in autumn after the leaves drop. Deadheading after the first flowers keeps the shape tidy and can bring a second flush.