Arapaho Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x faueri 'Arapaho')

'Arapaho' is the first hybrid Crape Myrtle cultivar derived from hybridization of three species of Lagerstroemia: L. indica, L. fauriei, and L. limii. The Arapaho Crape Myrtle was created especially to offer bright dark red flowers that last from spring to fall. It is also the most disease resistant Crape Myrtle available.

It is one of the best choices for your garden as it offers year-round interest with its glossy, dark green leaves, beautiful exfoliating bark and panicles of near true red flowers all over the summer. The blooms arise in giant clusters of dark red flowers all over this tree. Blooms begin in late spring and early summer and are persistent through the warm weather.

The fruits that develop after the flowering is finished are dark brown, and when mature, they dry and split to release disk-shaped seeds. The leaves have short petioles and have pointed, elliptic to oblong blades with rounded bases, usually 5 cm long. Crape Myrtles have an interesting bark that exfoliates in thin flakes in the autumn, exposing an attractive cinnamon or gray inner bark.

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Arapaho Crape Myrtle is a deciduous tree or shrub, with an upright and spreading growth, which looks best if planted in groups, as a hedge or small, single tree. Single or multi-stemmed small upright tree will grow up to 6 m tall and 3 m wide in 10 years. Arapahos are one of the faster growing Crape Myrtles, shooting up to 90-150 cm per year.

'Arapaho' grows and flowers best in a heavy loam to clay but moist soil in a place in full sun but will also grow well in hot, difficult sites. Be sure to plant your Arapaho Crape Myrtle in full sun. If they get too much shade, the bright red color of the flowers may fade and the flowering will be reduced. Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Once established it will only need only occasional water.

It can be easily propagate by softwood, semi-hardwood, hardwood or root cuttings but the preferred methods are softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings taken before flowering.

Contact Information

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Romania

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