Images Depict Mature Plants
Double Feature Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica 'Whit IX' USPP 23559
Double Feature Crape Myrtle dazzles with vibrant cherry-red blooms, exceptional reblooming power, and compact, disease-resistant growth perfect for sunny landscapes. Ideal for colorful hedges, vibrant foundation plantings, and pollinator-friendly gardens, it delivers months of bold, low-maintenance beauty to outdoor spaces.
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Double Feature Crape Myrtle
Double Feature Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'PIILAG-VI' PP#23,559) is a stunning ornamental shrub celebrated for its rich cherry-red blooms and remarkable reblooming ability. Unlike many traditional crape myrtles, Double Feature produces continuous waves of vibrant flowers from midsummer through early fall, creating a long-lasting, colorful display. Its lush, deep green foliage provides a striking contrast to the vivid blooms, and in autumn, the leaves transition to brilliant shades of orange and red. Compact and densely branched, Double Feature Crape Myrtle typically reaches a mature height and width of about 8 to 10 feet, making it a perfect choice for foundation plantings, flowering hedges, or colorful focal points in sunny landscapes.
Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, Double Feature Crape Myrtle is highly disease resistant, particularly to powdery mildew and leaf spot, ensuring clean, healthy foliage all season long. Once established, it also boasts impressive drought tolerance, making it an excellent low-maintenance option for busy gardeners. Its compact size and naturally rounded shape require minimal pruning, and its long bloom period provides essential nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies, enhancing both the beauty and ecological value of your garden.
Perfect for adding bold, reliable color to borders, landscape beds, or large containers, Double Feature Crape Myrtle brings both ornamental charm and dependable performance to any sunny outdoor space. Its ability to produce a second wave of stunning cherry-red blooms without the need for deadheading sets it apart from other varieties. Plant Double Feature where its brilliant colors and easy-care nature can be enjoyed from summer through fall, making it a standout addition to pollinator gardens, contemporary landscapes, and classic southern plantings.
| Hardiness Zone: | 7-10 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 8 to 10 feet |
| Mature Width: | 8 to 10 feet |
| Classification: | Semi Dwarf |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun |
| Habit: | Deciduous, densely branched, multi-stemmed summer through the first frost |
| Flower Color: | Red flowers in mid to late summer through the first frost |
| Foliage: | New growth emerges a rich dark green, changing to an equally vibrant reddish yellow 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 |
How to Care for Double Feature Crape Myrtle
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Double Feature Crape Myrtle plant for years to come!
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How do I Plant My Double Feature Crape Myrtle?
To plant your Double Feature Crape Myrtle successfully, choose a location that receives full sun—at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day—to encourage the most vibrant blooms and healthiest growth. Begin by digging a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball to allow room for the roots to expand. Remove the shrub from its container and gently loosen any circling roots before placing it into the hole. Make sure the top of the root ball sits level with or slightly above the surrounding soil. Backfill with a blend of native soil and organic compost, and water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots and eliminate air pockets. After planting, apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base of your Double Feature Crape Myrtle, keeping the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature, all of which are important for a strong start. During the first growing season, water deeply once or twice a week to help establish a robust root system. With proper planting and early care, your Double Feature Crape Myrtle will thrive, producing waves of stunning cherry-red blooms that add bold, long-lasting color to your sunny garden spaces.
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How do I Water My Double Feature Crape Myrtle?
Watering your Double Feature Crape Myrtle properly is crucial for encouraging strong root development, vibrant foliage, and abundant blooms. During the first growing season, water deeply once or twice a week, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry slightly between waterings. Deep, thorough watering promotes deep root growth, helping your Double Feature become more drought-tolerant over time. Always water at the base of the plant rather than overhead to help prevent fungal diseases and maintain the health and beauty of the foliage and blooms. Once established, Double Feature Crape Myrtle becomes quite drought-tolerant, requiring supplemental watering only during extended dry spells or extreme heat. Monitor the soil regularly, especially during hot summer months—if the soil feels dry 2–3 inches below the surface, it's time to water deeply. Adding a layer of mulch around the base helps conserve moisture and reduce soil temperature fluctuations. Proper watering habits will ensure that your Double Feature Crape Myrtle delivers wave after wave of brilliant cherry-red flowers, maintaining its status as a striking focal point in your sunny landscape.
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How do I Fertilize My Double Feature Crape Myrtle?
Fertilizing your Double Feature Crape Myrtle properly is key to promoting vigorous growth, lush foliage, and continuous, vibrant cherry-red blooms. In early spring, just as new growth appears, apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 or 12-4-8 formula around the drip line of the shrub. Be careful to keep the fertilizer several inches away from the trunk to avoid root burn. After applying, water thoroughly to help the nutrients soak into the soil and feed the roots, setting your Double Feature up for a season filled with abundant color and healthy growth. For enhanced performance, especially in poorer soils, consider a light second feeding in mid-summer to support the plant’s impressive reblooming ability. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Incorporating organic compost into the soil annually can also improve soil structure and fertility naturally. With a consistent fertilization routine, your Double Feature Crape Myrtle will thrive, producing wave after wave of bold cherry-red blooms that create stunning impact throughout the sunny months.
How and When Should I Prune My Double Feature Crape Myrtle?
Pruning your Double Feature Crape Myrtle properly is essential for maintaining its compact, healthy shape and encouraging prolific reblooming throughout the season. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins but after the danger of hard frost has passed. Start by removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches with clean, sharp pruning shears to open up the center of the plant and improve air circulation. Focus on light thinning rather than heavy cuts to preserve the shrub’s natural rounded form and to encourage strong, healthy flowering stems. After the first major flush of cherry-red blooms in early summer, you can lightly deadhead or trim spent flower clusters to promote additional flowering. Avoid drastic pruning practices, often referred to as "crape murder," which involve cutting the shrub back too severely and can lead to weak, unsightly growth. Regular, thoughtful pruning will ensure that your Double Feature Crape Myrtle maintains its vigorous growth habit, produces waves of bright blooms, and remains a vibrant centerpiece in your sunny landscape for many seasons to come.
