Images Depict Mature Plants
Plum Magic Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia 'Plum Magic' PP23518
Plum Magic Crape Myrtle offers stunning plum-colored new growth and vibrant fuchsia-pink flowers, delivering bold, multi-season color with exceptional disease resistance. Perfect for foundation plantings, privacy screens, and pollinator gardens, Plum Magic thrives in sunny landscapes, adding vibrant beauty and easy-care elegance to any outdoor space.
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Plum Magic Crape Myrtle
Plum Magic Crape Myrtle is a vibrant, compact variety celebrated for its rich plum-colored new foliage and bright, fuchsia-pink blooms that cover the shrub from midsummer into fall. This stunning color combination creates a dynamic and eye-catching display that evolves throughout the growing season. Plum Magic typically reaches a manageable size of 6 to 10 feet tall and wide, making it an ideal choice for smaller gardens, foundation plantings, privacy screens, or colorful borders. Its dense, rounded growth habit and prolific flowering make it a standout feature in any sunny landscape.
Highly adaptable and low-maintenance, Plum Magic Crape Myrtle thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, offering excellent resistance to common Crape Myrtle diseases like powdery mildew and leaf spot. Once established, Plum Magic is drought-tolerant, making it a great addition to water-wise gardens or landscapes that experience hot, dry summers. This variety requires minimal pruning to maintain its tidy shape and can be easily integrated into a variety of garden designs. Its brilliant, long-lasting blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, enhancing the biodiversity and beauty of your outdoor space.
In addition to its outstanding aesthetic appeal, Plum Magic Crape Myrtle offers multi-season interest with its dramatic spring foliage, summer floral show, and attractive bark texture in winter. Whether planted as a single specimen, grouped for a colorful hedge, or incorporated into pollinator gardens, Plum Magic brings bold color and reliable performance year after year. With its compact size, vibrant blooms, and durable nature, Plum Magic Crape Myrtle is an exceptional choice for gardeners looking to add lasting beauty and easy-care elegance to their landscapes.
| Hardiness Zone: | 6-9 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 6 to 10 feet |
| Mature Width: | 6 to 10 feet |
| Classification: | Semi-dwarf shrub form |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun |
| Habit: | Deciduous, densely branched, multi-stemmed summer through the first frost. |
| Flower Color: | Fuchsia-pink flowers in mid to late summer through the first frost. |
| Foliage: | New growth emerges a rich dark plum purple, changing to an equally vibrant orange-red in the fall. |
| 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, or a specimen planting . Small enough for a large containers on the patio. |
How to Care for Plum Magic Crape Myrtle
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Plum Magic Crape Myrtle plant for years to come!
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How Should I Plant My Plum Magic Crape Myrtle?
To plant your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle, choose a location that receives full sun for at least six hours a day to ensure vibrant foliage and an abundance of blooms. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, loosening the surrounding soil to encourage strong root establishment. Place the plant in the center of the hole, making sure the top of the root ball sits level with or slightly above the soil surface. Backfill with a mixture of native soil and compost, gently firming it around the roots, and water thoroughly to eliminate any air pockets. A 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base will help conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. When planting your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle, be mindful of spacing to accommodate its mature size of 6 to 10 feet tall and wide. Leave about 6 to 8 feet of space between plants if you’re planning a colorful hedge or border. Proper spacing also promotes good air circulation, reducing the risk of disease and encouraging healthy, vigorous growth. Water deeply and consistently during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. With the right planting techniques, your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle will thrive, rewarding you with stunning foliage, brilliant blooms, and easy-care beauty year after year.
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How Should I Water My Plum Magic Crape Myrtle?
When watering your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle, it’s important to establish a deep and consistent watering routine, especially during the first growing season. Water thoroughly once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions, making sure the soil remains moist but not soggy. Always water at the base of the plant to prevent wetting the foliage, which can help reduce the risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Deep, infrequent watering encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil, making your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle more drought-tolerant over time. Once established, Plum Magic Crape Myrtle becomes quite drought-tolerant and usually only needs watering during extended periods of dry weather. Before watering, check the soil moisture a few inches below the surface—if it feels dry, it’s time to water. Applying a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base will help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Proper watering practices will keep your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle healthy, vibrant, and covered in brilliant fuchsia-pink blooms throughout the hot summer months.
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How Should I Fertilize My Plum Magic Crape Myrtle?
To fertilize your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle effectively, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or 12-4-8 formula, in early spring as new growth begins. Distribute the fertilizer evenly around the root zone, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk, and water it in thoroughly to activate the nutrients. A spring feeding promotes vigorous growth, enhances the rich plum-colored foliage, and encourages an abundance of vibrant pink blooms. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they can stimulate excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowering. For best results, you can lightly fertilize your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle again in midsummer, particularly if the plant shows signs of reduced blooming or slow growth. Incorporating organic compost around the base can also improve soil health and provide a steady source of nutrients. Always follow the fertilizer package directions to prevent overfeeding, which can lead to stress and weak growth. With a consistent fertilization schedule, your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle will thrive, delivering spectacular color and strong performance throughout the growing season.
How and When Should I Prune My Plum Magic Crape Myrtle?
You should prune your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle in late winter or very early spring, just before new growth begins to emerge. This timing ensures you won't accidentally remove any developing flower buds and allows you to clearly see the shrub’s structure for more precise pruning. Start by removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to promote better air circulation and healthier growth. Since Plum Magic naturally has a dense, rounded form, only light, selective pruning is needed to maintain its beautiful shape and encourage abundant, vibrant blooms. When pruning your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle, avoid the common mistake of cutting back the main branches too severely—a practice often called "crape murder." Instead, focus on thinning out crowded areas and shaping the plant to highlight its lush foliage and brilliant pink flowers. Lightly deadheading spent blooms during the summer can also encourage a second flush of flowers for extended seasonal color. Proper, gentle pruning keeps your Plum Magic Crape Myrtle healthy, structurally strong, and covered in stunning fuchsia-pink blooms year after year.
