Center Stage® Crape Myrtle

Let's Grow

About Center Stage® Crapemyrtle (Crepe myrtle)

Center Stage® crape myrtles are all about that garden drama!  These showstopping, flowering ornamentals have bright red flowers that contrast beautifully against the dark, near black leaves of this unique crape myrtle cultivar. Created from other dark-leafed myrtles, Center Stage® is famous for its radiant blooms and high levels of disease resistance!

A solid choice for warm climates, Center Stage® crape myrtles are adaptable plants that can thrive in a range of growing conditions.  Thanks to their compact and upright growth habit, these plants can be squeezed in just about anywhere, including inground beds and containers.  When flowers emerge in late spring to early summer, they will also attract pollinators and emit a luscious, intoxicating fragrance that makes an evening stroll in your garden feel like a truly magical experience.

Center Stage® Crepemyrtle Name
Botanical Name	Lagerstroemia indica
Plant Hardiness	Zone 5-9
Mature Height	12'
Mature Width	8'
Sun Needs	Full Sun
Does Not Ship To	AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, PR

Special features:

• Magnet for bees and other pollinators
• Aromatic blooms
• Drought tolerant once established
• Appropriate for container growing
• Disease resistant

How to grow crepe myrtle

Center Stage® crape myrtles have excellent disease resistance and they are relatively drought tolerant, low fuss plants. That said, you can encourage crape myrtle growth by applying fertilizer to your plants in early spring. Depending on your garden size and your tastes, you can also prune your crape myrtles in late winter to early spring by removing suckers and dead stems and shaping your plant if needed. 

When watering Center Stage® crape myrtles, give your plants a good, deep drink of water so that the moisture reaches all the way to the plant’s deepest roots.

Best time to plant crape myrtle

The best time to plant crepe myrtle trees is in spring, after your last frost date. Getting your plants in the ground early in the year will help them settle into your garden fully before winter arrives.

Where to plant crepe myrtle

Crape myrtles can grow in a range of soil types, but they prefer rich, well-draining gardens. Before planting your crape myrtles, you may want to stir a bit of compost into the soil. This will give your plant’s a nutrient boost and support the development of more flowers.

As sun loving plants, crape myrtles should be grown in a spot in your garden that receives 6+ hours of bright light daily.

How to plant crape myrtle

Depending on your garden, crape myrtles can be grown in either planters or inground beds. To plant your Center Stage® crape myrtles in your garden, dig a hole that is about as deep as your plant’s root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. Locate your plant in the hole at the same depth it was growing in its nursery pot and then backfill the planting hole. After planting, keep your crape myrtle well-watered for at least the first growing season to encourage your plant to adapt to your garden more quickly.

Growing crepe myrtle in containers

Because of their compact growth habit, Center Stage® crape myrtles are also a great candidate for container growing. Choose a pot that is at least 3 gallons in size and make sure it has plenty of drainage holes.  Plants grown in containers will need to be watered more often, but otherwise they have the same care requirements as plants grown in garden beds.

How tall do crepe myrtles get?

When fully mature, Center Stage® crape myrtles will grow about 12’ tall by 8’ wide.  If you prefer a more compact look, you can keep your plants smaller with pruning.

History of Center Stage® Crapemyrtle
Center Stage® crape myrtles are members of the Lagerstroemia indica species. These crape myrtles originated in the Indian subcontinent, but they made their way to Europe and the Americas in the 18^th century. As popular ornamentals, crape myrtles have been the subject of many plant breeding experiments, which resulted in the development of the many different cultivars that are available today.

Center Stage® is a relatively new variety of crape myrtle, which was specially grown by Proven Winners® for its disease resistance and dark, near black, leaves.

Buying Center Stage® Crapemyrtle at Cold Creek Nurseries

All of our plants are grown from cuttings, rather than seed, to preserve the look and feel of the original plant. That means that, when you order a Center Stage® crape myrtle from us, you’ll get exactly the plant you’ve been looking for. When your crape myrtle tree arrives, simply remove it from its nursery pot and start planting!