Black Diamond® Crystalline™ Crape Myrtle

Clusters of White Blooms Atop Near-Black Foliage  The Black Diamond® Crystalline™ Multi Stem Crape Myrtle is known for its versatility and extraordinary beauty. The dark, almost black leaves are a rarity, contrasting perfectly against white blooms. The flowers grow in clusters, blooming all summer long until the first frost. Black Diamond® Multi Stem Crape Myrtles can vary in shape depending on how you prune them. They can grow up to 12 ft. tall as a small tree or can be pruned back to maintain a tall shrub or bushy form. They can also be used as a focal shrub or as a perennial addition to gardens, borders, and even containers. Once established, the Black Diamond® Crystalline™ Multi Stem Crape Myrtle is known for being low maintenance as it is both heat-tolerant and disease-tolerant. Allow it to flourish on its own and become one of your garden’s top beauties. Add the Black Diamond® Crystalline™ Multi Stem Crape Myrtle to your garden by ordering online today! Planting & Care 1. Planting: Black Diamond® Multi Stem Crape Myrtles require full sunlight, approximately 6-8 hours a day, to maintain their black foliage. If planted in partial sun, their leaves may turn greener in hue. Mix in compost to your soil, and then dig a hole twice the width of the tree’s container. Remove the tree from the container and then hold the stem straight while you fill the hole with soil. Add a layer of mulch to help conserve water and suppress weeds, making sure the mulch does not touch the base and stem of the tree. 2. Watering: Water the tree often until the plant is established, approximately every other day for the first month. Once established, they require minimal supplemental watering. Mature Black Diamond® Multi Stem Crape Myrtles are drought-tolerant. 3. Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring once new growth begins to appear. Use a slow-release fertilizer designed for flowering shrubs. If you’re not seeing flowers by July/August, add a bloom booster fertilizer.  4. Pruning: Prune sparingly to help shape the tree and encourage branching. Alternatively, you can keep the tree small and bushy by cutting back stems to your desired height. If the tree is not leafing out well in the spring, cut the plant back until you see green growth, and it will bush out again.