Other Names:  Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle

Group/Class:  Barista Collection

Brand:  Walters Gardens

Description:

This exciting ornamental shrub or small tree produces volumes of vibrant, frilly, deep pink blooms in late summer; a captivating focal point for the garden or border; mature heights will be taller in southern climates; blooms on new wood

Ornamental Features

Barista® Perky Pink Crapemyrtle is clothed in stunning panicles of hot pink frilly flowers with yellow anthers at the ends of the branches from late summer to early fall, which emerge from distinctive coppery-bronze flower buds. It has attractive olive green foliage with hints of burgundy which emerges burgundy in spring. The glossy oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn dark red in fall. The fruits are showy green pods displayed from mid fall to early winter.

Landscape Attributes

Barista® Perky Pink Crapemyrtle is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Barista® Perky Pink Crapemyrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Barista® Perky Pink Crapemyrtle will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. To help this plant achive its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer from early spring through into the active growing season. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.