Lagerstroemia 'Zuni' Crepe Myrtle
Description: Lagerstroemia 'Zuni' is a deciduous shrub or small tree known for its profusion of summer blooms, attractive bark, and colorful autumn foliage. It is prized for its compact size and excellent disease resistance, making it a popular choice for gardens, landscapes, and urban settings.
Foliage:
- Leaves: The foliage of 'Zuni' is medium green, elliptical to lanceolate in shape, and arranged alternately along the stems. The leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, and red in autumn before dropping, providing seasonal interest.
- Bark: One of the distinctive features of 'Zuni' is its smooth, exfoliating bark that reveals patches of cream, cinnamon, and gray, adding year-round visual appeal.
Flowers:
- Inflorescence: Zuni Crepe Myrtle produces large panicles of crinkled, vibrant lavender-pink flowers in mid to late summer. The flowers are abundant, fragrant, and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
- Blooming Period: Blooms persist for several weeks during the summer months, depending on the local climate and growing conditions.
Form:
- Size: Typically grows to a height of 3-5 meters with a spread of 2-4 meters, forming an upright, vase-shaped crown.
- Habit: Multi-stemmed with a compact and dense growth habit. The branches are often slightly arching, enhancing its ornamental value.
Growing Conditions:
- Climate: Zuni Crepe Myrtle thrives in warm temperate to subtropical climates, making it suitable for various regions, including parts of Australia. It prefers areas with hot summers to promote abundant flowering and foliage color.
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soils. It can tolerate slightly acidic to neutral pH levels. Mulching around the base helps retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature.
- Sunlight: Requires full sun for optimal flowering and growth. At least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day is recommended.
- Watering: Regular watering during the establishment period is crucial. Once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant but benefits from occasional deep watering during dry spells.
Planting and Care:
- Planting: Best planted in spring or autumn. Ensure the planting hole is prepared to accommodate the root ball comfortably. Amend heavy soils with organic matter to improve drainage.
- Pruning: Prune in late winter to early spring to remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches and to shape the plant. 'Zuni' Crepe Myrtle blooms on new wood, so pruning encourages vigorous growth and flowering.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring to promote healthy growth and flowering. Avoid excessive nitrogen to prevent lush foliage growth at the expense of blooms.
Pests and Diseases: Zuni Crepe Myrtle is generally resistant to most pests and diseases but can occasionally be affected by:
- Powdery Mildew: Fungal disease that may affect foliage, especially in humid conditions. Ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering to minimize this issue.
- Aphids: Small insects that may feed on new growth. Control with insecticidal soap or neem oil if infestations occur.
Landscape Uses:
- Specimen Plant: Ideal as a focal point in the garden due to its vibrant lavender-pink flowers, attractive bark, and colorful foliage.
- Hedging: Can be used as a small hedge or screen in gardens.
- Street Tree: Suitable for urban landscapes and street planting where space permits.
- Container Planting: Can be grown in large containers on patios or in courtyards to provide seasonal interest and ornamental value.
Notes:
- Winter Hardiness: Lagerstroemia 'Zuni' is generally hardy but may benefit from protection in colder regions during harsh winters.
- Maintenance: Low maintenance once established. Regular watering and occasional fertilizing promote healthy growth and flowering.
Companion Plants: Pair with plants that complement its lavender-pink flowers and colorful autumn foliage for a harmonious landscape design.
Lagerstroemia 'Zuni' (Zuni Crepe Myrtle)
Common Name: Zuni Crepe Myrtle
Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia 'Zuni'
Family: Lythraceae
Origin: Cultivar developed for enhanced bloom and ornamental value
Read lessPlease note that all Plants on this site are a range of plants we grow through out the year.
Availability changes all through out the year. please check with us via our Sunshine Coast Garden Centre page for Pricing & Availability
Product Availability
Plants & Pots come and go all year around.
- Plants are seasonal and sometimes we run out but have more batches coming along.
- Some Plants are not always in-stock however we can either order it in. pending availability
- Available numbers change every hour of the day in store and where we grow so please check in with us on how many you are looking for
- we have access to thousands of plants. if you are looking for a specific plant please let us know and we will see if its coming into stock soon or if we can order it for you.
- we will sometimes keep plants on our website to show you the description of how it grows and its specific characteristics. they may not be in stock all the time however we will keep it up online so when it comes in we wont have to reload products
Where are our plants Grown and how do we grow them
- Plants are grown locally on the Sunshine Coast
- All outdoor plants are sun hardened and ready to grow
- Indoor plants are grown under 50% Shade and will transfer perfectly to indoor use
- Orchids are also grown under 50% Shade and are best brought indoors during flowering for show then returned back into a shaded area until the following flowering time
- we are Qualified horticulturists, greenkeeper as well as Qualified landscape Construction with over 35 years experience in the industry. We use Quality products and materials to grow all our plants.
How to Look after your plants like we do
- When using any Garden Care products or Fertilisers we always recommend reading the label before use
- We recommend using Earthlife crushed rock mineral on all plants when planting in the ground or in Pots.
- When planting in Pots in Our garden centre we use either Rocky Point Premium Potting mix or our own custom potting mixes blend to plant all our plants
- If planting in the ground we also recommend that you use good quality Bagged garden soil around your plants at the time of planting