Two years ago, I was shopping at a one-stop store and like so many of us, I had to go through the nursery first. There was a display of plants with dark purple, almost black leaves - and it caught my eye. As I got closer, I could see the plants were crape myrtles.
Wait a minute. Crape myrtles with leaves that are almost black? I looked at the label and it said they were Black Diamond Crape Myrtles. Naturally, I had to get one or more.
Origins
The beautiful black diamond crape myrtles came into being by way of Mississippi. A U.S. Department of Agriculture research scientist bred these beauties, and now they are grown by J. Berry Nursery in Texas.
Five in series
The stunning black diamond crape myrtle has five different colors. We all know how different reds can be, and there is the Best Red, which is a very dark red.
You might think it wouldn't show up with the dark burgundy leaves, but it is a beautiful mix of colors.
There is a Crimson Red which is a lighter red but still very pretty in the landscape and also a Red Hot red, which is what its name implies. The Blush is a very soft pink that almost looks like a light is shining behind the bloom. It is a stunning flower. The Pure White is just that. It is without a hint of pink and looks amazing with the dark burgundy leaves.
New favorite
I think the black diamond crape myrtle is my new favorite plant. It brings back memories from my childhood.
We had crape myrtles in our yard. When we were playing, I would often pick the white blooms and use them to put on top of my mud pies to look like meringue. Yes, we did make mud pies. There were no televisions back then, and we actually did go outside and play. So, the southern beauty crape myrtle was a popular plant many years ago.
Characteristics
I know they look fragile, but they are very strong plants. They would have to be in order to live in our South Texas heat.
Require full sun - Crape myrtles (also correctly spelled "crepe" myrtles) always need to be planted in full sun - and this new series is no exception. I planted mine in a large flower bed with other plants, and the dark purple-burgundy leaves make an outstanding impact. I have only had mine for two years, but so far, they have had no problems.
Disease tolerant - The black diamond has shown great tolerance to many diseases, fungus and terrible black mildew that will get on other crapes. They hold their leaves better than other crapes in the yard.
High impact - They are not a prolific bloomer like many others you will see, but the impact of this beauty does not depend on the blooms. I think the blooms are a bonus since the leaves are so outstanding.
Different shapes and forms - Some crapes have limbs that drape and some make a nice canopy. Perhaps my black diamonds are too young, but they appear to grow more upright. I have the Best Red, and I am very happy with it and its shape. I bought two others, and they were labeled Blush and Pure White. They haven't bloomed yet, so I am not too sure what they are.
Vary in size - According to information I have read, when these beauties are fully mature, they are 8-12 feet tall and about 6-8 feet wide. Mine have a long way to go to reach either. I was checking online and the black diamond crape myrtles I saw looked more like a shrub instead of a tree. Either way, they are beautiful and unusual in the landscape.
As we all know, the drought was terrible last year. My new black diamonds had no problems at all. They were treated just like the other plants in the bed and flourished. However, at the very first cold snap, they dropped all their leaves. I was thrilled to see the leaves sprouting in early spring.
Plant this fall
This new crape myrtle has generated a lot of interest with growers and gardeners because it has the hardiness of our known crapes with the unusual beauty of the black diamond. If you are fortunate, like me, to have one or more of these in your landscape, watch its leaves this winter, and see what happens next spring.
Trying some new plants in your landscape occasionally can help you change up the texture and aesthetic beauty of your home. Fall is an ideal time to plant shrubs and trees here in South Texas, so consider trying a real gem - the black diamond crape myrtle.
The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Victoria County Master Gardener Association
