Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Facts About Red Rocket Crepe Myrtle Plants
Facts About Red Rocket Crepe Myrtle Plants. Red Rocket crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Whit IV') is a small, flowering tree with an upright, vase-shaped habit. Carl Whitcomb of Lacebark Inc., in Stillwater, Oklahoma, developed the plant. Red Rocket crape myrtle works well as a foundation tree, or as a specimen for a small, urban garden.
Red Rocket crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Whit IV') is a small, flowering tree with an upright, vase-shaped habit. Carl Whitcomb of Lacebark Inc., in Stillwater, Oklahoma, developed the plant. Red Rocket crape myrtle works well as a foundation tree, or as a specimen for a small, urban garden.
Appearance
Red Rocket crape myrtle is a spring and summer flowering tree growing between 15 to 20 feet tall with a similar spread. The moderately fast-growing tree flowers until fall, producing dense clusters of brilliant-red, papery flowers against green foliage. The foliage shifts from green to shades of orange, red or yellow in the autumn before dropping in the winter.
Location
Crape myrtle hails from China. These trees do best in temperate climates, thriving in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 6 to 9. Plant Red Rocket crape myrtle in a location with full sunlight and good air circulation. Trees grown in partial or full shade produce fewer flowers and are more likely to catch disease. The tree adapts well to tight, confined spaces and may be squeezed into a small corner of the garden near a patio or deck.
Soil
Crape myrtle does best in a soil that is slightly acidic, about pH 5.0 to 6.5. Although drought tolerant, crape myrtle requires regular irrigation until mature. Once the tree is about 2 years old, it requires supplemental watering only during heavy summer heat or extended periods of drought. Applying a light dose of balanced fertilizer during the spring and summer enhances flowering. Do not use a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer, as this promotes leaf growth, not flower growth.
Maintenance
Pruning as needed every year maintains a formal appearance. Over pruning can ruin the natural effect of the plant. Crape myrtle plants are highly susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal disease resulting in a white, powdery mold on leaves and young shoots. Prevent the disease by planting crape myrtle in a bright, sunny area with air circulation. Mulch around tree to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil.
