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Crape Myrtle Twilight Magic Trees for Sale Online
Twilight Myrtle Midnight Magic™ (Lagerstroemia 'PIILAG-VIII') produces superb coral-pink-colored flowers and offers loads of dark purple-burgundy foliage all summer. This plant is not shy when it comes to height and width. It can grow over 16 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide.
Due to its height and showstopping colors, this plant goes best as a specimen plant or for foundation planting. When living in mild winter areas, Crape Myrtles can also be very effective as a screen or informal hedge.
Crape myrtles bloom on new wood and should always be pruned in winter or early spring. A full sun lover, this tree will grow easily in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Like other Magic Crape Myrtles, Twilight Magic is extremely resistant to powdery mildew and leaf spot.
Hardiness Zone: | 6-9 |
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Mature Height: | 15 to 18 feet |
Mature Width: | 6 to 8 feet |
Sunlight: | Full Sun |
Habit: | Deciduous, densely branched, multi-stemmed summer through the first frost |
Flower Color: | Coral-pink |
Foliage: | New growth emerges a rich reddish purple, eventually turning dark purple |
Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
Water Requirements: | Water well until established |
Uses: | extremely attractive when used as a focal point in the mixed border, mass planting |
How to Care for First Editions® Twilight Magic™ Crape Myrtle
Be sure to read about the recommended care instructions to keep this plant healthy and thriving for years to come!
How do I water Twilight Magic Crape Myrtles?
Newly planted crape myrtles should be watered thoroughly, we recommend at least once a week and up to 5 times a week depending on location and climate. If you're in cool weather and the plant is dormant, water once a week. This is to ensure you don't overwater the crape myrtle and cause any damage to the root system. If you live in a hot climate or very sandy soil, water up to 5 times a week, to ensure your soil does not dry. For the first 2 months of your newly planted crape myrtle, continue this watering routine. Your crape myrtle will want to retain water, to help it do so, try adding mulch with organic matter 2 to 3 inches deep in the soil.
When Should I Fertilize My Twilight Magic Crape Myrtle?
We recommend feeding your tree once in the very early spring and again in mid-fall after new growth has hardened off. Bio-tone starter fertilizer is our favorite product to use at this time of planting your new tree. For your early spring fertilizer use a product such as Espoma Tree-tone at its recommended rate. It will give your plant a boost of nitrogen that is needed for healthy foliage and stem growth. In the early summer apply Espoma Flower-tone, this will provide the proper nutrients to promote your crape myrtle's beautiful flowers. Slow-release fertilizer can help prevent rapid sucker growth that is vulnerable to diseases and insects. However, be aware that too much fertilization can result in fewer blooms and excessive leaf growth.
How Do I Mulch Twilight Magic Crape Myrtles?
Mulching crape myrtles is very important. After you have planted your tree, you should add mulch around the plant to help conserve moisture, reduce weeds, and insulate the roots from any extreme temperatures. We recommend a layer around 3 to 5 inches surrounding the tree. Keep in mind that your area for planting will be much larger than just the planting hole, take into consideration the space the mulch will take up. Ground hardwood or ground cypress mulch will work great, depending on your local availability. Any mulch will do, however, cypress or hardwood mulch are of higher quality and provide better nutrients overall.
How Much Sun Does a Twilight Magic Crape Myrtle Need?
Twilight Magic Crape Myrtles are full sun lovers! They do best in at least 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight per day. Crape myrtles will not reach their fullest potential with less than the recommended amount of full sunlight. We recommend checking the sun patterns in your garden before planting your crape myrtle to ensure you find the best location for them to blossom beautifully. If your tree receives hours of partial shade per day, they can grow but they tend to get overly leggy and their flowers are typically smaller and fewer.