Black Crape Myrtles.

Worth1 · October 7, 2013

I have never been a fan of them.
Not because I dont like them but because they are done to death here in Texas.

Well that all changed this summer when I went to Home Depot.
I saw this small bush like thing in a pot.
It had red flowers and the darkest leaves I have ever seen.
I had to know what this critter was so I slowly crept up on it thinking it might take legs and run off.

I looked at the tag and to my surprise it was a crape myrtle.

This crape myrtle, not mine but one like it.

It is one called Black Diamond Best Red that goes by another name, Ebony.
The Black diamond and Ebony series are one and the same.
Well anyway I fell in love with this plant.
I needed something to offset the green I have in the yard and this was it.
A very dark purple semi dwarf tree was just the ticket.
The critter is doing well so today I bought another one for the hole a dead rosemary left in the ground.

One thing I always liked about Crape Myrtles is they are the cactus of trees here.
Some folks down the street never and I mean never water.
What do they have in their front yard?
You guessed it Crape Myrtles.

Worth

Labradors2 · October 7, 2013

Very cool plant!

Please tell me that you won't commit Crepe Murder in the spring.

Linda

Worth1 · October 7, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Very cool plant!

Please tell me that you won't commit Crepe Murder in the spring.

Linda

I can promise you if I were to rule the world there would be a prison built to house crape murderers.

It would not only house these folks but also people that cant keep roundup in their own yards.

Redemption would be to learn how to trim trees.

Worth

October 8, 2013

I lived in Louisiana & Florida for over 35 years, and I think Crepe Myrtles are just beautiful. I wish they would grow here in WA, but they won't. In the South the next most beautiful was Azaleas, especially in North Louisiana.

tlintx · October 8, 2013

I love those colors. I'm attempting to grow a red-leafed hibiscus and a red-leafed dahlia this year. Love how the dark red/purple looks against regular green plants and chartreuse plants.

I bought a crape years ago, it was supposed to be "white chocolate" (white flowers, dark leaves). It turned out to be an entirely ordinary purple flowered one. Our "local nursery" sucks -- "all plants HALF OFF!" almost all the time, incredibly overpriced the rest of the time. Nothing from the ad ever in stock. It's the J. C. Penney's of the plant-selling world.

I don't water mine, I don't prune it, it does just fine. Much like the Dr. Huey rose I ended up with (from the same nursery) I don't particularly like it but it grows so I hate to cut it down!

October 7, 2013	#1
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Black Crape Myrtles. I have never been a fan of them. Not because I dont like them but because they are done to death here in Texas. Well that all changed this summer when I went to Home Depot. I saw this small bush like thing in a pot. It had red flowers and the darkest leaves I have ever seen. I had to know what this critter was so I slowly crept up on it thinking it might take legs and run off. I looked at the tag and to my surprise it was a crape myrtle. This crape myrtle, not mine but one like it. It is one called Black Diamond Best Red that goes by another name, Ebony. The Black diamond and Ebony series are one and the same. Well anyway I fell in love with this plant. I needed something to offset the green I have in the yard and this was it. A very dark purple semi dwarf tree was just the ticket. The critter is doing well so today I bought another one for the hole a dead rosemary left in the ground. One thing I always liked about Crape Myrtles is they are the cactus of trees here. Some folks down the street never and I mean never water. What do they have in their front yard? You guessed it Crape Myrtles. Worth

October 7, 2013	#2
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,890	Very cool plant! Please tell me that you won't commit Crepe Murder in the spring. Linda

October 8, 2013	#4
JoParrott Guest Posts: n/a	I lived in Louisiana & Florida for over 35 years, and I think Crepe Myrtles are just beautiful. I wish they would grow here in WA, but they won't. In the South the next most beautiful was Azaleas, especially in North Louisiana.

October 8, 2013	#5
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	I love those colors. I'm attempting to grow a red-leafed hibiscus and a red-leafed dahlia this year. Love how the dark red/purple looks against regular green plants and chartreuse plants. I bought a crape years ago, it was supposed to be "white chocolate" (white flowers, dark leaves). It turned out to be an entirely ordinary purple flowered one. Our "local nursery" sucks -- "all plants HALF OFF!" almost all the time, incredibly overpriced the rest of the time. Nothing from the ad ever in stock. It's the J. C. Penney's of the plant-selling world. I don't water mine, I don't prune it, it does just fine. Much like the Dr. Huey rose I ended up with (from the same nursery) I don't particularly like it but it grows so I hate to cut it down!