Tonto crape myrtle

Sun

Full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily; choose a warm, sheltered position in cooler climates.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; once rooted, it tolerates some drought but flowers better with occasional deep watering during prolonged dry weather.

Soil

Well-drained soil, from sandy loam to clay loam; slightly acidic to neutral is ideal. Avoid permanently wet ground.

Height

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Spread

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Flowers

Deep fuchsia-red, crinkled flowers in upright clusters from midsummer into early autumn; flowering may be sparse in cool summers.

Foliage

Small, oval, dark green leaves turning orange to red in autumn; stems leaf out relatively late in spring.

Growth

Moderate; faster with summer warmth and adequate moisture.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Disease resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3.1 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply during the first two growing seasons whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; excess nitrogen encourages leaves rather than flowers.
• Keep lawn and vigorous groundcovers away from the base while the plant establishes.
• In colder districts, plant in spring and choose a site sheltered from drying winter winds.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, crossing and crowded branches, along with unwanted basal shoots. Flowers form on new growth, but routine hard cutting or topping is unnecessary and spoils the natural framework.

Late winter

Inspect the branch framework and prune lightly before new growth begins.

Spring

Plant in colder districts, refresh mulch and water thoroughly; allow time for its naturally late leaf emergence.

Late spring

Check tender shoots for aphids and inspect stems for scale insects.

Summer

Water deeply during prolonged drought, especially while the plant is young or flowering.

Early autumn

Avoid nitrogen feeding and heavy pruning so new growth can mature before winter.

Late autumn

Remove fallen leaves if leaf spot was troublesome, and check that mulch is not touching the stems.

• Use as a small specimen tree beside a patio, allowing room for its rounded crown.
• Plant in a sunny mixed border with salvias and ornamental grasses for late-summer colour.
• Repeat several plants along a broad boundary to create an informal flowering screen.
• Train with several exposed trunks to show the peeling bark against a simple evergreen backdrop.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, Modern courtyard, Traditional, Mediterranean, Hot border and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Catmint, Salvia, Lavender, Switchgrass, Daylily and Lamb's ear.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen for bees and other insects. Branches offer cover and potential nesting sites for small birds.

• Poor flowering: provide full sun and summer warmth, avoid excess nitrogen, and do not prune away new shoots during the growing season.
• Aphids and sticky honeydew: wash small colonies off with water; use insecticidal soap if needed, avoiding open flowers and beneficial insects.
• Crape myrtle bark scale, especially in affected parts of the United States: look for white felted patches and black sooty mould on stems; confirm identification and seek locally appropriate treatment.
• Powdery mildew or Cercospora leaf spot: Tonto has good mildew resistance but is not immune; improve airflow, avoid wetting foliage and remove diseased fallen leaves.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is recognised as seriously poisonous, but it is not a food plant and eating substantial amounts may cause digestive upset.

• Dynamite crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Whit II')

  Usually grows taller and has clearer red flowers; Tonto is more compact with a stronger fuchsia tone.

• Catawba crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Catawba')

  Has purple flowers rather than Tonto's deep fuchsia-red; their size and general habit can be similar.

Lagerstroemia honours the Swedish merchant Magnus von Lagerström, while crape myrtle refers to the crinkled, crape-like petals and myrtle-like leaves.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings later in summer. Vegetative propagation preserves the cultivar; seedlings will not reliably match Tonto.

Accepted botanical name

Lagerstroemia

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.