PlantFiles: Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica 'Red Rocket'

I have 2 of these that were planted as 18" twigs 3 years ago. They are now over 6' tall and bloom profusely in my zone 6b location. The bronze fall foliage and berries are lovely.

This was an amazing addition to my yard. It's beautiful red color just pops! I've found that if you continually pick the seeds off when they turn green (you can't miss them), it will just bloom and bloom and bloom.

Red Rocket has the best new leaf color of any that I've grown--always bronzy red, even well into July here near the Delaware shore. The flowers are a strong, deep rosy red and, in my experience, the flower heads seem heavier than some crepe myrtles, in relation to branches, and so tend to bow over more. Otherwise, one of my favorites.

Instead of just propagating by seeds, try rooting the suckers that you prune off. They root extremely easily in soil with a little rooting hormone.

I have a different variety of this species and I just love it! Although, yes trimming them back makes the Crapes look great because they bloom best on new wood, but it is actually semi-harmful to Lagerstroemia indica, or any Crape. Trimming them back to their trunks severely stresses the plant out! Crape Myrtles actually live shorter lives when trimmed to their trunks. It is best to let them go, buy just pulling the suckers and trimming off the cross branches, to keep the bonsai look. A great addition to any home or business in zones 7-10!

This plant wants to grow suckers from it's base. I keep the suckers pruned off so it resembles a tree. After it blooms in summer and in early fall before it can develop seeds prune it back severely.. to a cane with a fork or two. Sometimes this can coax an additional bloom, but it certainly makes the plant attractive when it bursts back with fresh foliage in a few weeks. Never prune after fall in extreme northern areas if you have an early frost... let it go dormant.