Lagerstroemia Black Diamond Mystic Magenta

Lagerstroemia Black Diamond Mystic Magenta is a deciduous crepe myrtle from the new USA-bred Black Diamond series. It has profuse frilly red blooms and striking black foliage. It’s an excellent choice for hot, sunny mixed border and courtyard gardens.

Crape myrtles are native to the warm regions of south-east Asia, northern Australia and the Indian subcontinent and were named after Magnus Von Lagerstrom who collected plant species for Carl Linnaeus in the 1700s. Over the years, many new Lagerstroemia cultivars have emerged, but the Black Diamond range (also known as Black Solitaire) is especially striking because it has black foliage.

Lagerstroemia Mystic Magenta is a red-coloured crepe myrtle from the range. It’s one of the most popular of the black diamond reds, the blooms are a rich luminous red and seem to glow in the shade or in the sun. This variety is an extremely profuse flowerer and as a result, not as tall as some of the other black diamond reds like Crimson Red so this variety is better grown as a shrub rather than a tree form. Expect non-stop continuous flowering from early summer right through to autumn. 

Its black foliage emerges on bare branches in early spring and only falls after turning deep purple in late autumn. The frilly red blooms appear in late spring and flower continuously until late summer. Its flowers are profuse and cover the shrub glowing against their black foliaged background.

This is an excellent compact crepe myrtle with high impact colour and a long flowering season and splendid autumn colour.

Height And Spread Lagerstroemia Black Diamond Mystic Magenta
Lagerstroemia Mystic Magenta is shorter than others in the Black Diamond range. It will reach a maximum height and spread of 1.5 metres.

How Hardy Is Lagerstroemia Black Diamond Mystic Magenta
Crepe Myrtle Mystic Magenta will cope with UK winters if it’s planted in full sun with protection from wind. It needs well-drained roots and as much sun as you can give it.

How To Use Lagerstroemia Black Diamond Mystic Magenta
This compact crepe myrtle isn’t common in the UK. It suits Mediterranean or tropical-style gardens, country cottages, and because its black foliage is so modern it’s a good choice for chic urban courtyards too.
If you have a large sunny flower border, try planting Mystic Magenta en-masse or alongside other crepe myrtles from the Black Diamond range such as Lavender Lace or Pure White.
Crepe myrtles like mild weather so it’s a good sheltered coastal plant and an eye-catching specimen shrub for the lawn.
Because Mystic Magenta is smaller than other crepe myrtles, it’s a very suitable shrub for container planting. Use it to brighten a sunny sheltered balcony, patio or deck.

How To Care For Lagerstroemia Black Diamond Mystic Magenta
Crape Myrtle Mystic Magenta needs a sun-soaked spot with shelter from cold drying winds. It’s essential you avoid frost pockets because this is a warmth-loving shrub that struggles to flower without full sun.
It will grow in the majority of well-drained soils including chalk and sand and pruning isn’t required. Trim back its tips in late winter or early spring if necessary and boost it with a thick layer of organic mulch in spring for a healthy flower display.
If you’re using a container, water and fertilise it frequently in the growing season and raise it on bricks to aid good drainage - crepe myrtle do not like consistently wet roots.