Lagerstroemia 'BURGUNDY COTTON'®

Lagerstroemia
Lagerstroemia 'BURGUNDY COTTON'®
crepe myrtle
SIZE/TYPE medium-sized shrub
USUAL HEIGHT 1.5-3m
USUAL WIDTH 0.5-1.5m
LEAVES deciduous broadleaf
COLOUR OF LEAVES +multicoloured:burgundy red and green
FLOWERS showy
COLOUR OF FLOWERS white
BLOOMING TIME July - September
LOCATION full sun
USDA zone (lowest) 6b   (down to -21°C)
WINTER PROTECTION  
FOR ZONE 5+6 Code of winter protection zone 5+6
FOR ZONE 7 Code of winter protection zone 7
BELONGS TO CATEGORIES Deciduous broadleaf
Summer blooms
Exotics
náhled foto
Crape myrtle is a flowering shrub or small tree from China. It was first introduced to the USA and the UK in the 18th century. The original plant lagerstroemia indica is too tender and not too pretty so breeders were working on further hybridization and the most attractive varieties available now are believed to be results of crossing with l.speciosa and l.fauriei. Far more important news for us is the fact that among those finished plants were selected others that survived lower temperatures than what was common in the areas of natural habitat so we have a few myrtles that can grow even in our climate. Some were selections, other further hybrids.

<>Burgundy Cotton® crepe myrtle was bred by Dr.Carl Whitcomb, a breeder well-known for his achievements in the field of crossing hardy crepe myrtles. Burgundy Cotton® enriches the range with white flowers on dark foliage. Flowers are formed in large panicles producing enormous number of burgundy red buds from mid to end July until frost. Flower colour is almost white with some pink shades.

Leaves of Burgundy Cotton® are deep burgundy red when the emerge, changing to deep green in summer with still enough new foliage at the tips of the branches to provide a fantastic background for almost white flowers. The leaves are deciduous, oval to ovate, larger and more leathery than on the species, turning various shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn. When they fall down older plants reveal flaking-off bark, similar to what plane trees or stewartias do, leaving a mosaic pattern on the smooth trunks.

Crape myrtle needs little care. They need full sun with zero shade during the day. Pruning will secure flowering: cut back last year's growth to about a third of its original size. Do so in spring after danger of frosts. The plant will make strong news shoots that will bear flowers. Grow in well-drained soil that should be kept moist before it gets fully established. Some sources say that plants do well in slightly acidic soil but as far as it is not water-logged they will grow in any fertile soil. It needs heavy mulching in winter and some mulch in summer to retain moisture. Overfertilizing will cause excessive growth but no flowers. Burgundy Cotton is fully hardy to -18°C and wood hardy to about -21°C which is sufficient provided it will be pruned in spring.

Last update: 04-01-2011
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Lagerstroemia
GLOSSARY
  • STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
  • DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
  • EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
  • STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
  • HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
  • SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
  • HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
  • FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
  • GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
LARGE PLANTS over 150 cmspecimens, screening and hedging shrubs

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