Tonto Crepe Myrtle

Tonto Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Tonto') is a semi dwarf crepe myrtle that grows to about 3.5m tall and 3m wide, which puts the full summer flower show within reach of small gardens, courtyards and large pots. The blooms open deep pink to red over many weeks, the foliage resists the powdery mildew that spoils older varieties in humid weather, and the leaves colour warmly before dropping in autumn.

Why you'll love it

• A crepe myrtle scaled for real gardens. At about 3.5m by 3m it fits beside patios, pools and boundaries where a full size tree cannot go.
• Rich summer colour. Generous trusses of deep pink to red flowers through the warmest months, just as most other trees have finished for the year.
• Foliage that stays clean. Its Lagerstroemia fauriei parentage brings mildew resistance, so humid summers do not coat the leaves in powdery grey.
• Autumn colour to finish. The canopy turns warm tones before the leaves drop, a genuine second season of interest.
• Easy company. Pet friendly, non-invasive roots, flowers that bees and butterflies work hard, and little maintenance once established.

Where it works best

Feature planting. A single tree beside an entry, a deck or a window turns the hottest weeks of the year into its best, with the whole display at eye level.

Driveways and avenues. Its predictable size makes repeated plantings along a drive tidy and even, without the pruning battles a larger crepe myrtle brings.

Pots and small gardens. It grows well long term in a wide tub in full sun, and in a small garden it delivers flowers, autumn colour and polite roots in one footprint.

Growing Tonto Crepe Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering. It is frost hardy and comfortable across subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, which makes it one of the most widely plantable flowering trees we sell.

Soil. Not fussy, provided water drains away. Improve the planting hole with compost and mulch the root zone, keeping mulch off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first summer. Once established it is genuinely drought and heat tolerant, needing water only in long dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in spring is plenty.

Pruning. Flowers form on new growth, so prune in late winter if you prune at all. A light thinning keeps the frame open. Resist the urge to lop it hard every year: this variety was bred so you never have to.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Tonto in three sizes: 300mm pots as well branched young trees, 45L advanced stock with real structure, and 400L specimen trees for instant effect. Crepe myrtles are deciduous, so a tree delivered in winter may arrive bare and budded, which is normal and no cause for concern.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect strong new growth once the weather warms, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the crepe myrtle care guide for pruning, feeding and flowering advice.
• Compare colours and sizes in the crepe myrtle collection.
• Browse other flowering trees if you need a different height or season.

Common questions

Can I keep it smaller than 3.5m?

Yes. A late winter prune holds it comfortably around 2m to 2.5m, and because it flowers on new growth you lose nothing for the effort. Avoid cutting back to thick stubs, which spoils the frame.

Is it safe around pets?

Yes. Tonto is pet friendly and not considered toxic to cats or dogs, so it is a sound choice for a backyard the animals share.

When does it flower?

Through the warmest months, typically from midsummer and running for many weeks. Full sun and a spring feed give the longest display.

Do the roots threaten paths or pipes?

No. The root system is non-invasive, so it can sit near paving, pool surrounds and garden walls where many trees would be a risk.