Red Rooster™ Crepe Myrtle

Let’s Grow

About Red Rooster™ Crapemyrtle (Crepe myrtle)

Bright as a rooster’s comb, the showy flowers of the Red Rooster™ crapemyrtle are certain to be the star of any flower garden or container arrangement. Flowers first appear in mid-May to early June and can continue to bloom for 3 to 4 months! You may even be able to get a second flush of flowers in late summer if you prune away spent flowers after they begin to fade.

Like other crape myrtle trees, Red Rooster™ has highly aromatic flowers that are an essential addition to scent gardens. Flowers are also a magnet for bees and other pollinators, which makes this plant an excellent choice for pollinator gardens! The compact growth and low maintenance needs of Red Rooster™ also means it can be grown in containers or inground beds. Position this plant singly as a specimen tree or plant en masse for an incredible flower display. However you choose to grow Red Rooster™, we’re certain you’ll fall in love with this reliable, blooming beauty.

Red Rooster® Crepe Myrtle
Botanical Name	Lagerstroemia hybrid 'PIILAG III
Plant Hardiness	Zone 5-9
Mature Height	8 to 10'
Mature Width	4 to 5'
Sun Needs	Full Sun
Does Not Ship To	AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, PR

 Special features:

• Attracts bees and butterflies
• Fragrant flowers
• Can rebloom for long lasting color
• Naturally deer and rabbit resistant
• Good for container growing
  
  

How to grow crepe myrtle

Red Rooster™ crape myrtles are hardy plants that are naturally resistant to most pests.  Even better, their leaves can withstand most diseases too, which makes them a good choice for beginning gardeners or anyone who prefers lower maintenance plants. 

To support crape myrtle growth, apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring and prune away old branches in late winter. Any suckers that emerge around the base of your tree should be snipped away to redirect the plant’s energy towards bloom development.

Best time to plant crape myrtle

The best time to plant crepe myrtle trees is spring, after your last frost date.  Planting at this time of the year will provide your new tree with plenty of time to adapt to your garden before winter sets in.

Where to plant crepe myrtle

Crape myrtles are resilient and adaptable plants that tolerate a range of soil types but they grow best in well-draining spots. Red Rooster™ crape myrtles also need full sun to support flower development, so plants should be located in an area that receives at least 6 hours of bright light daily.

While Red Rooster™ plants can be grown in inground beds, they are also compact enough to keep in containers.  Growing crape myrtles in this manner will give you greater flexibility about where to grow your plant.  In fact, container grown crape myrtles can even be placed on a sunny porch, patio or balcony!

How to plant crape myrtle

To plant your crape myrtle, dig a hole that is as deep as the plant’s root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. Amend the soil if you want to with a bit of compost or aged manure and then place your plant in the planting hole to the same level it was growing in its nursery pot. Backfill the hole and then water your plant well to help it settle in.

Although crape myrtles are relatively drought resistant once established, they will grow even better with regular, deep watering.

Growing crepe myrtle in containers

If you have a small garden space or poor soil, you may want to grow Red Rooster™ crape myrtles in pots instead. Choose a pot that has plenty of drainage holes and that is at least 3 gallons in size.  Fill the pot with a quality potting mix and then bury your plant to the same level it was growing in its nursery pot. 

After planting, locate your crape myrtle in full sun and water it regularly as plants in containers will dry out more quickly.

How tall do crepe myrtles get?

When fully mature, Red Rooster™ crape myrtles max out at 8 to 10’ tall and 4 to 5’ wide.  This is just the right size for container growing, but plants are also tall enough to provide some extra garden privacy.

History of Red Rooster™ Crapemyrtle

Crape myrtles are native to Oceania, Australia and Asia, but they are so often featured in southern gardens that many people think they are native to the United States. In actuality, crape myrtles were first brought to America in the 1700s and their popularity has only grown since.

Over the years many varieties of crapemyrtles have been developed by botanists and nursery workers through careful plant breeding practices. ‘ Red Rooster™’ crape myrtles are relatively new to the gardening scene, but they have impressed growers with their disease resistance and vivid blooms since they were first released!

Buying Red Rooster™ Crapemyrtle at Cold Creek Nurseries

All of our plants are produced by the original breeders from stem cuttings, rather than seed. This ensures that plants have all of the characteristics of the parent plant in terms of flower size and color, growth habit and more. When your purchase Red Rooster™ crape myrtles from us, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you’re getting exactly the plant you want