Deep, dark red crape myrtles are my absolute favorite!
If this is the color you are after with your crape myrtles, you have to be very specific with what variety you want. A lot of times crape myrtles are not blooming when you purchase them in a container, so knowing the variety is crucial.
The reason I bring this up is because there are two common mistakes that are made with some very common varieties of crape myrtle…
First, the “Country Red” crape myrtle. You would think it is red since it has “red” in the name, but the reality is it’s going to lean much towards the pink side rather than red…
Secondly, for whatever reason, Tuscarora crape myrtles are considered by many to be a “watermelon red” crape myrtle. Often times, if you go to a garden center or landscape supply store and ask for a red crape myrtle, Tuscarora is what you are going to get. The problem is, as with the Country Red, they are simply not red…they are pink. Both the Country Red and the Tuscarora may have shades of red, but they are not going to give you a dark, deep, crimson red.
If a true dark red is what are looking for, then there are two pretty common varieties that you should look for. One is Red Dynamite, and the other is Red Rocket. The color of the two will be about the same, the only difference will be the mature size. Red Dynamites will grow to about 15-20’, and Red Rockets will grow to about 25-30’.
If the true dark, deep, crimson red is what you want, you won’t go wrong with either of these!
