Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on October 26, 2022

Planting instructions

Find a planting location in full sunlight with soil that is well-draining and slightly acidic. Then, dig a hole that is as deep as your plant’s root ball and about twice as wide. Place your Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle into the hole and backfill while adding some form of organic matter such as compost. Water your Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle while you backfill to moisten the soil around the roots and cover the planting area with mulch to help maintain that moisture.

Watering and nutrients

After planting a Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle, you should water it often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture throughout the first growing season. After the first growing season, you can determine your watering frequency based on soil observations. When you notice that the first three to four inches of soil have dried out, give your Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle some water. Typically, this amounts to watering about once per week during spring and summer. Fertilize your Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle once per year in spring with a balanced fertilizer.

Pollination

The Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle has an incredibly long bloom time that begins in the summer months. During that time, the nectar that the flowers hold will attract a wide range of pollinator species. Since the Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle is self-fertile, a single plant is capable of pollinating itself rather than relying on a companion pollinator plant. However, given that the fruits of the Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle are neither widely consumed nor attractive to the eye, you won’t need to worry about encouraging pollination at all when caring for this plant.

Pruning

The Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle has a lovely upright form, which proper pruning can help emphasize. To shape this plant, it’s generally best to remove any suckers that grow from the plant’s base. Once the plant is a bit older, removing many of the lowest branches will continue to neaten this plant’s appearance. Pruning should take place in early spring and should also include the removal of any branch that is dead, damaged or diseased.

Pests, diseases and animals

Compared to many crape myrtle varieties, the Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle often has better disease resistance. This is especially true regarding powdery mildew and similar moisture-related infections. However, this does not mean that the Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle is entirely immune. Instead, canker, tip blight and leaf spots can all afflict this plant if it does not receive the proper care and maintenance. You’ll also want to watch out for harmful insects such as the Japanese and Ambrosia beetles.

Achieving maximum results

Bloom time is when the Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle is at its most impressive. Left alone, this plant will look spectacular with many incredible flower clusters. However, if you actively remove spent blooms, you can encourage your Black Diamond® Radiant Red Crape Myrtle to produce even more high-quality flowers. Do most of your deadheading during the start and middle of the bloom period and do less when fall arrives. Pruning too close to the colder months can cause the plant to sprout new growth that will die immediately in the first frost.

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