Tonto Crape Myrtle

Looking for a shrub that can flourish in the heat of the sun, is drought-resistant, and displays dark fuchsia blooms? Look no further than the Tonto Crape Myrtle! This shrub is an excellent choice for those looking for a hardy option that can thrive in hot and dry conditions.

What’s more, the Tonto Crape Myrtle is perfect for those living in colder regions, including zones 5 and 6. This hardy shrub will bloom every year, even as a small shrub, providing you with continuous flowers from early-summer until the first frost. The flowers are large and come in a bright-pink shade that is both rich and vibrant, making it a real standout in any garden.

The foliage of the Tonto Crape Myrtle is another of its impressive features. It remains a healthy and glossy deep green throughout the summer, so it never looks tired or dusty, as older varieties tend to do.

So, if you want a shrub that can withstand the heat and dry conditions, is hardy enough to bloom every year, and offers striking dark fuchsia blooms, the Tonto Crape Myrtle is the perfect choice for you.

  • Best Crape Myrtle for colder areas
  • Vibrant pink flowers will come every summer even if cut to the ground in winter
  • Disease resistant and thrives in hot and sunny spots
  • Continuous flowering summer and fall
  • Small to medium shrub ideal for smaller gardens

During the fall season, the leaves of the Crape Myrtle burst into a stunning deep-red color before they fall off to reveal the plant’s magnificent mottled bark in shades of beige, taupe, cream, and brown. If you’ve ever thought that you couldn’t grow a Crape Myrtle due to harsh winter conditions, this plant is sure to prove you wrong.

Crape Myrtles have undergone a significant transformation from their earlier days when they were towering trees with pale lilac flowers. Back then, they were often plagued by unsightly white growth on their leaves during the summer, giving them a worn-out and dusty appearance. Fortunately, over the last 50 years, plant breeders across the country have worked tirelessly to develop new and improved varieties in various sizes and vibrant shades. From soft and bold pinks to rich cherry-reds and purples, Crape Myrtles have become a diverse plant family.

These new varieties are also bred to be powdery mildew resistant, ensuring the rich, glossy green foliage remains healthy and vibrant to showcase the flowers at their finest.

Looking for a shrub that can flourish in the heat of the sun, is drought-resistant, and displays dark fuchsia blooms? Look no further than the Tonto Crape Myrtle! This shrub is an excellent choice for those looking for a hardy option that can thrive in hot and dry conditions.

What’s more, the Tonto Crape Myrtle is perfect for those living in colder regions, including zones 5 and 6. This hardy shrub will bloom every year, even as a small shrub, providing you with continuous flowers from early-summer until the first frost. The flowers are large and come in a bright-pink shade that is both rich and vibrant, making it a real standout in any garden.

The foliage of the Tonto Crape Myrtle is another of its impressive features. It remains a healthy and glossy deep green throughout the summer, so it never looks tired or dusty, as older varieties tend to do.

So, if you want a shrub that can withstand the heat and dry conditions, is hardy enough to bloom every year, and offers striking dark fuchsia blooms, the Tonto Crape Myrtle is the perfect choice for you.

  • Best Crape Myrtle for colder areas
  • Vibrant pink flowers will come every summer even if cut to the ground in winter
  • Disease resistant and thrives in hot and sunny spots
  • Continuous flowering summer and fall
  • Small to medium shrub ideal for smaller gardens

During the fall season, the leaves of the Crape Myrtle burst into a stunning deep-red color before they fall off to reveal the plant’s magnificent mottled bark in shades of beige, taupe, cream, and brown. If you’ve ever thought that you couldn’t grow a Crape Myrtle due to harsh winter conditions, this plant is sure to prove you wrong.

Crape Myrtles have undergone a significant transformation from their earlier days when they were towering trees with pale lilac flowers. Back then, they were often plagued by unsightly white growth on their leaves during the summer, giving them a worn-out and dusty appearance. Fortunately, over the last 50 years, plant breeders across the country have worked tirelessly to develop new and improved varieties in various sizes and vibrant shades. From soft and bold pinks to rich cherry-reds and purples, Crape Myrtles have become a diverse plant family.

These new varieties are also bred to be powdery mildew resistant, ensuring the rich, glossy green foliage remains healthy and vibrant to showcase the flowers at their finest.

Growing Tonto Crape Myrtle Trees

The hardy Tonto Crape Myrtle is the perfect plant for hot, sunny, and dry locations. It’s also highly drought-resistant and a great choice for those looking for a low-maintenance plant. Even if you live in colder regions, don’t let that stop you from growing this beautiful shrub. While it’s completely hardy from zone 7 to 9, it’s also root-hardy well into zone 5, so the plant will survive and send up new shoots from the base in spring.

Although the top-growth of the plant may be killed by winter cold, the Tonto Crape Myrtle will still bloom every year as a small shrub in zones 5 and 6. The plant flowers continuously from early-summer to the first frost, producing large clusters of bright-pink flowers of a rich and vibrant shade. The foliage of the Tonto Crape Myrtle stays healthy and glossy deep green all summer long, never looking tired or dusty like older varieties.

Since Crape Myrtles flower at the ends of new shoots, the Tonto Crape Myrtle will definitely flower well even if it doesn’t become as large in zones 5 or 6. Expect it to grow 4 or 5 feet tall and perhaps 3 feet wide each summer, still making a spectacular flowering shrub for the sunniest spot in your garden.

Soil Conditions

The versatility of this plant is remarkable as it can grow in a variety of soil types, ranging from sand to clay. It thrives in hot, sunny areas and requires well-drained soil to flourish. To showcase this beautiful plant in all its glory, it is recommended to choose the sunniest and hottest location in your garden.

Whether you wish to grow it in a shrub border alongside other flowering shrubs, or as a standalone plant, it is sure to impress. If you have a larger garden, consider planting it in groups of 3 or 5 to make a bold statement. Regardless of how you choose to feature it, the Tonto Crape Myrtle is an excellent addition to any garden.

Using as a Hedge or in a Container

This magnificent plant serves not only as an exquisite addition to your garden but also as a practical solution to your landscaping needs. Its ability to create an informal hedge is particularly noteworthy, as it can help demarcate different areas in your garden or separate your property from your neighbor’s.

If you are looking for a flowering shrub that can liven up your outdoor living spaces, you can’t go wrong with this plant. Its vibrant colors are sure to complement any deck, patio, or terrace and create a stunning focal point that will delight you and your guests throughout the summer season. You can also cultivate it in a container to bring the plant’s beauty and charm closer to you.

Size

The Tonto Crape Myrtle is a remarkable shrub that can reach heights of 10 to 11 feet in warm zones, expanding its breadth as well. While it is generally upright, it spreads widely with multiple trunks, making it an ideal candidate for a shrub border or as a flowering hedge. Unlike its tree-form counterparts, the Tonto Crape Myrtle is not recommended for planting as a lawn specimen due to its branching structure.

Appearance

The Tonto Crape Myrtle is a stunning plant that boasts bright fuchsia-pink flowers in large clusters at the ends of its branches. These flowers bloom on new shoots that grow in the spring and begin to blossom by early summer, continuing to do so right up to the last frost. Pruning the flower clusters when they fade can encourage even more flowers and prevent seed formation. The flower clusters themselves are impressively large, measuring well over 6 inches long and tightly packed with beautiful blooms.

The glossy summer foliage of the Tonto Crape Myrtle is a rich, dark green color and remains free of powdery mildew, which can disfigure some plants. In the fall, the leaves turn a brilliant deep red, providing a spectacular display of color. As the leaves fall, the attractive branches with their mottled bark in varying shades of brown and beige are revealed, creating a stunning winter feature. This means that the Tonto Crape Myrtle is a plant that can provide interest and beauty in your garden all year round.

Planting Location

When planting your Tonto Crape Myrtle, it’s important to consider the necessary spacing depending on your growing zone. For hedges, leave about 6 feet between plants, or less in colder zones where some winter damage may occur. To begin planting, dig a hole or trench that is two to three times wider than the pot, but not deeper. Place the plant into the hole, and then replace most of the soil while ensuring it’s well-packed. Afterward, water the plant thoroughly and replace the remaining soil, being mindful not to cover the roots with any additional soil. If you plan to grow your Tonto Crape Myrtle in a container, choose a large pot with drainage holes, such as a half-barrel, and fill it with high-quality outdoor potting soil.