Magic Series Crepe Myrtle is a group of hybrid plants that are known for their stunning displays of colorful flowers. These plants are a popular choice for gardeners due to their ability to add beauty and charm to any outdoor space. The Magic Series Crepe Myrtle is a relatively new addition to the plant market, but it has quickly gained popularity among both amateur and professional gardeners. This series is known for its large, vibrant flowers that come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, purple, and white. One of the main attractions of the Magic Series Crepe Myrtle is its long bloom season. These plants typically bloom from mid-summer to early fall, providing a stunning display of color for several months.

Ruffled Red Magic Crape Myrtle

NOTE - For all plants currently listed in Quart size ( 1 QT ) and Trade Gallon ( 2.5 QT ) nursery pots. we will be removing plants from plastic pots and placing in fabric grow bags for shipping. this will begin on certain products NOW as we run trials but should be in full effect very soon - Deliveries to CA, OR, WA, AZ, UT, ID, NV, MT, ND, SD will be shipped Bareroot.

First Editions® Plum Magic Crapemyrtle

Do you love crape myrtles but hate the diseases associated with them? Meet the new and improved First Editions® Magic™ Crape Myrtle Series. These crape myrtles showcase new color combinations, compact size, and disease resistance.

The Plum Magic Crape Myrtle produces an abundance of crinkly, pink blooms July to September. New growth starts out red in the spring before turning green in the summer. An additional perk of the Magic Series Crape Myrtles is the size.

A smaller and more compact Crape Myrtle, this tree easily transforms into a nice hedge with its round, bushy form. Growing only 6 to 8 feet high makes this a perfect, compact ornamental tree to dress up any landscape. Not only is this tree bursting with color and compact, but it is also resistant to disease.

Compact, dense, and colorful, this tree/shrub variation of the Crape Myrtle is absolutely stunning. Give it sunlight and good drainage and it will take off with little maintenance. Sit back and relax and let this show stopping Crape Myrtle perform magic before your eyes!

Crape Myrtle Tree Comparisons

Variety	Flower Color	Bloom Time	Zones	Height (ft)	Width (ft)	Growth Rate
Black Diamond Best Red	Red	July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 12	8	1 - 2ft / yr
Black Diamond Crimson Red	Red	July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 15	8	3 - 4ft / yr
Black Diamond Mystic Magenta	Magenta	Early July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 12	6-10	3 - 4ft / yr
Black Diamond Purely Purple	Purple	July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 15	6 - 10	3 - 4ft / yr
Black Diamond Red Hot	Red	Early July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 15	6-10	3 - 4ft / yr
Black Diamond Shell Pink	Pink	Early July to Oct	7 - 10	10 - 12	6-10	3 - 4ft / yr
Catawba	Violet Purple	July to Late Sept	7 - 9	15	12	1 - 2ft / yr
Coral Magic	Salmon Pink	Late June to July	7 - 9	6 - 8	6-8	0.5 - 1ft / yr
Dynamite	Cherry Red	Early July to Oct	7 - 9	15 - 25	15	2 - 3ft / yr
Muskogee	Lavender	June to Oct	7 - 11	25 - 30	20	3 - 5ft / yr
Natchez	White	June to Oct	7 - 10	20 - 30	20	3 - 5ft / yr
Pink Velour	Deep Pink	Early July to Sept	7 - 10	8 - 10	10	0.5 - 1ft / yr
Plum Magic	Pink	Late June to July	7 - 9	6 - 8	6-8	0.5 - 1ft / yr
Purple Magic	Dark Purple	Late June to July	7 - 9	6 - 8	6-8	0.5 - 1ft / yr
Red Rocket	Red	July to Oct	7 - 9	20 - 30	15	3 - 5ft / yr

First Editions® Plum Magic Crapemyrtle Care

Be sure you choose the right location and have the appropriate conditions for your new Plum Magic Crape Myrtle to thrive. Luckily Crape Myrtles are pretty easy to grow and don't require much maintenance at all. If you follow growing zone guidelines for your particular variety you can plant your crape myrtle just about any time of year. Plum Magic Crape Myrtles grow in zones 7-9.

These trees prefer full sun, but can tolerate some shade and are adaptable to just about any soil as long as it is well-draining. Crape Myrtles do enjoy a slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 5.0 or 6.5 being ideal, but as long as your soil isn't extremely alkaline there is no need to modify it. Mulching with a 2-3 inch layer of pine straw or pine bark is ideal for crape myrtles. Do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk as these increases the chances of pests and disease. Mulching helps keep soil moist and protects roots during temperature extremes. Crape Myrtles should be watered deeply about 2 times per week after planting for about 3 months. After this establishment period, water deeply about once weekly when conditions are dry. Crape Myrtles are drought tolerant once established. Fertilize in early spring and when planting to give your tree a boost and help it achieve the best blooms. Choose a balanced, slow release fertilizer. If you know your soil is on the basic side choose a fertilizer that is for acid loving plants. Crape Myrtles do not generally require pruning, but if needed, prune when they are dormant to remove any dead, dying, or crowded branches. Avoid the need to over prune your tree by choosing a variety that fits best in your chosen spot. You can choose a variety that is only 5 feet tall up to varieties that grow over 30 feet tall. Magic series Crape Myrtles grow up to 10 feet tall and wide.

The best way to prevent disease and pests is by providing the appropriate care for your plants. Proper location choice, watering and fertilization are the keys to your success. There are not many pests or diseases that cause severe problems for crape myrtles. Aphids are one of the few pests that attack crape myrtles. Minor infections aren't likely to cause problems, but a severe infection can weaken your tree. You can treat aphids naturally with horticultural oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap. For severe infections use pesticides like carbaryl, also known as Sevin. The Magic series crape myrtles are extremely resistant to Powdery Mildew and other diseases.

Landscape ideas

The Magic series of Crape Myrtles will look great anywhere in your landscape. The colorful bloom clusters are sure to brighten up your yard. The mature size is only 6-8 feet tall and wide so be mindful of this when choosing a spot for this tree-shrub. The Crape Myrtles in the Magic series look great as single specimens planted in your yard and provide a wonderful focal point for a bed or garden. This variety tends to grow more like a large, full bush than a tree. This Crape Myrtle will also look great framing your front door or the front entrance of your driveway. Plant 1 on each side and watch your house turn into a home. Another stellar look for these shrub-like crape myrtles is a grouped hedge or cluster. You will love the color and beauty this will add to your yard. Planting your flowering trees about 5 or 6 feet apart can even provide privacy in spring, summer and fall.

For additional options, be sure to browse our Crape Myrtle and Dwarf tree collection.

Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle

The Midnight Magic™ Crape Myrtle has rich, purple-red foliage that holds it color from the moment it appears in spring, right through to the end of fall. It grows just 4 to 6 feet tall, so it fits perfectly into a smaller garden, or as a medium-sized shrub in a larger garden. Plant it alone, or in a group, for a steady supply of color. By July the first deep pink blooms will appear, making a vibrant contrast with the foliage. These persist throughout summer and well into fall. This easily grown shrub is invaluable for those hot, sunny spots in your garden, and in dry areas with poor soil. You will love the seasons of color and interest this plant delivers, while asking almost nothing in care from you.

Constant color from deep purple-red foliage
Dark pink flowers from July through September
Tough, reliable and drought-resistant
Leaves are always glossy and free of diseases
Ideal size for smaller gardens or mass planting

Plant the Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle in full sun, for the best foliage color and continuous blooms. It thrives in any well-drained soil, including sands and gravels, as well as clay soil. Once established it is very drought resistant, and its leaves will stay clean and disease free, even during hot, humid weather, because it is highly resistant to the common diseases of crape myrtles. Use it among other shrubs, as a short screen or informal hedge, or as a container plant on your terrace. However and wherever you grow it, you will love the ease with which it delivers color from spring to fall.

In warmer areas – zones 7, 8 and 9 – crape myrtles have a long history as the backbone of summer flowering trees and shrubs. With their long flowering period, heat and humidity resistance, and ability to grow in poor soil, they are an easy and very effective way to bring color into your summer garden. There are just two limitations – first, in spring they are just green foliage, and secondly, they are prone to foliage diseases in summer that make them less attractive.

The Midnight Magic™ Crape Myrtle is a new variety which solves both these problems, as well as being the perfect size for smaller gardens and mass planting. In spring, when the new leaves emerge, they are a rich dark-red/purple color, and unlike most other red-leaf crape myrtle varieties, this saturated dark coloring lasts throughout the season. Because it is highly-resistant to the common leaf diseases of crape myrtles, these handsome leaves stay clean and glossy all summer long. Plus, from early July well into September, the bush is smothered in clusters of blooms of a vibrant dark pink color. This strong coloring contrasts beautifully with the foliage, making a striking feature out of this easy-to-grow plant.

These plants typically bloom from mid-summer to early fall, providing a stunning display of color for several months. The flowers are held in large clusters, giving the plant a showy appearance. In addition to their beautiful flowers, Magic Series Crepe Myrtle plants also have attractive foliage.

Growing Midnight Magic™ Crape Myrtle

The Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle grows rapidly into a full, densely-branched shrub, 4 to 6 feet tall and the same across. In spring the new leaves emerge a rich purple-red that is almost black, with a clean, glossy surface. This desirable foliage color really adds a punch to your garden, so that even before it flowers this plant is bringing vibrant color to your garden.

By July the first clusters of blooms appear. These clusters are 4 ½ inches long and 3 ½ inches wide, containing many deep-purple flower buds. They open into broad flowers with crinkled petals, like crepe paper. These are a dark, rich purple-pink, in a very vibrant shade, which contrasts perfectly with the deeply colored foliage. Each cluster is in bloom for two weeks, and even before it fades, new clusters are being produced, so that this bush will stay in flower throughout the summer and through September. Often blooms will still be being produced when the first frost arrives.

Uses in Your Garden

Because of its compact size, the Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle is the perfect choice for a smaller garden, or for planting in a row to make an informal hedge or screen. It can be mass-planted to fill garden spaces with colorful, easy-care plants that bring color for month after month. Grow it in a sunny spot, as even a little shade will cause fading of the foliage, and reduced flowering. It is very undemanding for soil, growing vigorously in any well-drained soil, from sands and gravels to heavy clay. Few other plants are so easy to grow while offering so much color for so long. You can also grow the Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle in a large pot or planter, where it will stay a little smaller, but bring lots of color to your patio or terrace.

Pests and Diseases

The Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle has been bred to be resistant to common diseases of crape myrtles, especially powdery mildew, that always covers the leaves of older varieties with unsightly gray-white powder in summer. Your plant will still fresh, glossy and rich green all summer long. It is also resistant to the more serious Cercospora leaf spot fungus, which causes spotting of leaves in summer and early leaf drop, leaving plants bare and unsightly by early fall. You do not need to worry about either of these diseases, because the Midnight Magic Crape Myrtle has been bred to resist them.

Care and Maintenance

You can trim this plant in late winter, before the new shoots emerge. Trimming hard, by cutting the branches of the previous year back to just a few inches, will produce a shorter, densely-branched, compact plant. Light trimming, or just removing any damaged or weak branches, will result in a taller, more upright plant. Removing flower heads as soon as the last flower fades will encourage even more flowers to form, over a longer period.

The leaves are dark green and glossy, creating an interesting contrast to the bright flowers. Another reason why the Magic Series Crepe Myrtle is so popular is its versatility. These plants can be grown in a wide range of climates and soil conditions, making them suitable for almost any garden. They are also relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance once established. Magic Series Crepe Myrtle plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Regular watering and fertilizing can help promote healthy growth and abundant blooms. The Magic Series Crepe Myrtle is available in a variety of sizes, ranging from dwarf varieties that are perfect for small gardens or containers, to larger trees that can be used as a focal point or shade tree. They are also quite hardy, making them a good choice for gardeners in colder climates. In conclusion, the Magic Series Crepe Myrtle is a beautiful and versatile plant that can bring color and interest to any garden. Its stunning flowers, attractive foliage, and easy care requirements make it a popular choice among gardeners of all skill levels. Whether used as a border plant, a container plant, or a standalone tree, the Magic Series Crepe Myrtle is sure to add beauty and charm to any outdoor space..

Reviews for "The Magic of Crepe Myrtle: Exquisite Blooms and Vibrant Colors"

1. John - 1 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Magic series crepe myrtle. The blooms were not as vibrant as I expected and the plant had a weak structure, constantly drooping. It required a lot of maintenance and didn't even bloom for a long period. I would not recommend this variety to anyone looking for a showstopper in their garden.

2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - The Magic series crepe myrtle did not live up to its name for me. The flowers were lackluster and the overall growth was stunted. I followed all the care instructions, but the plant just didn't thrive. It also attracted a lot of pests, which was another hassle to deal with. I won't be purchasing this variety again.

3. David - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for the Magic series crepe myrtle, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The blooms were underwhelming and didn't last very long. Additionally, the plant required constant pruning and had a messy habit of shedding leaves and flowers. Overall, I found it to be a hassle to maintain and it didn't add much beauty to my garden. I wouldn't recommend it to others.

4. Emily - 3 out of 5 stars - While the Magic series crepe myrtle had its merits, I was not fully satisfied with its performance. The blooms were reasonably attractive, but they didn't have the wow factor that I was hoping for. The plant also had a tendency to become leggy and required frequent pruning to maintain its shape. Overall, it didn't bring as much joy to my garden as I had anticipated.

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