Tuscarora Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Tuscarora’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone >

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree, Fauriei Hybrid

Height at Maturity: 15-20′

Width at Maturity: 15′

Spacing: 10-12′ for solid hedge or screen, 18’+ for space in between plants

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

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: Bright Watermelon Pinkish-Red

Flowering Period: Early to Mid-Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall

Flower Type: Single flowers in large rounded to elongated clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Rich Green

Fall Foliage Color: Orange Red

Fragrant Foliage: No

Bark Color: Gray, Tan, Brown & Green

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Well Drained

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!

One of if not the most popular Crape Myrtle trees of all time and one of our personal favorites of the taller growing cultivars, ‘Tuscarora’ produces abundant 6 to 7 inch long clusters of bright, watermelon-red flowers for up to 120 days during summer. Rich-green foliage throughout the season turns to vibrant shades of orange and red, extending the color show into fall. Because Tuscarora is a Fauriei Hybrid Crape Myrtle there will be no problems with powdery mildew, an unsightly disease which shows up during summer as a white powdery substance that covers the leaves on many other types of crape myrtle. After the leaves drop its the exfoliating bark in shades of grey, tan, brown and green provide interest in the winter garden.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 15 to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide, the Tuscarora Crape Myrtle is best grown as a tree and as such is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or in single or staggered rows to line a driveway, property line or street. It is also nice to frame in the corners of tall home or other structures. Tuscarora can also be grown in large containers or planters. Whether planted as a specimen or in groupings this is one summer flowering tree that is sure to stand out in the landscape!

Suggested Spacing: 10 to 12 feet apart for solid screen; 18 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this Crape Myrtle variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Tuscarora Crape Myrtle is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full to mostly sun. Light shade is tolerated but flowering will be diminished in more shade. Has shown excellent resistance to powdery mildew and is quite drought tolerant when established. No pruning required however responds well to it when young. See: How To Prune a Crape Myrtle Tree

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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