Miss Frances Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica ‘Miss Frances’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b (10?) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 15-20′

Width at Maturity: 15-18′

Spacing: 8-10′ for solid hedge, 20’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Broad Canopy, Rounded Canopy

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: True Red

Flowering Period: Early to Late Summer

Flower Type: Single flowers in large, 7 inch long panicles

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark to Medium Green

Fall Foliage Color: Maroon

Fragrant Foliage: No

Bark Color: Brown

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Moist But Well Drained to Periodically Dry when established

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Moderate Drought, Heat

Description

When it comes to flowering trees, there’s simply no others more showy than Crape Myrtles. They bloom for up to 100 days during summer, when there are few other trees and shrubs providing that service in the landscape. Colorful fall foliage and attractive exfoliating bark in winter enhance their overall appeal. It’s no wonder they are so wildly popular among designers and gardeners!

A new red flowering Crape Myrtle tree with a more vigorous growth rate and incredible color, ‘Miss Frances’ is a taller grower to 20 feet high and wide that features abundant large clusters of brilliant true red flowers for an extended period during summer against a rounded and dense canopy of rich green foliage. Mature bark is an attractive grey-orange that contrasts nicely with both the leaves and the flowers. ‘Miss Frances’ has displayed a high level of resistance to leaf spots and powdery mildew in our gardens.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 15 to 20 feet tall and equally as wide, the Miss Frances Crape Myrtle is ideal for use as a specimen tree, in groupings, or as a hedge in landscape borders. Perfect to frame the corners of homes and other buildings or entryways. Whether planted as a specimen or in groupings, this is one crape myrtle that is sure to stand out in the landscape! A fine addition to red theme gardens and bird gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 10 feet apart for solid hedge; 20 feet apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Miss Frances Crape Myrtle is very easy to grow in most any soil that is moist but well drained and as much sun as you can give it. We suggest at least 7 hours of direct sunlight per day for best flowering. Has shown excellent resistance to powdery mildew and is drought tolerant when established. Is root hardy to USDA 6a and top hardy to 7a.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Crape Myrtle trees.

How To Plant A Crape Myrtle In The Ground Or In A Pot

How To Prune a Crape Myrtle Tree the Right Way

How To Fertilize & Water A Crape Myrtle

How To Prune a Dwarf Crape Myrtle

Choosing the Right Crape Myrtle

Plant Long & Prosper!

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