Scarlet Colorama™ Crape Myrtle

Scarlet Colorama™ Crape Myrtle — Vivid Red Color from Summer Through Fall

When the summer heat peaks and most flowering plants are struggling, the Scarlet Colorama™ Crape Myrtle is just hitting its stride. Its bold scarlet flower clusters blaze from midsummer all the way through fall — thriving in full sun and heat that would wilt lesser plants. Add in exfoliating cinnamon-toned bark, rich fall foliage, and an architectural winter silhouette, and you have a tree that earns its place in the landscape every single month of the year.

Why Gardeners Love It

• Vivid Scarlet Summer Blooms: Dense clusters of crinkled red flowers appear in midsummer and continue blooming for months — one of the longest bloom seasons of any flowering tree.
• Heat & Drought Tolerant: Thrives in full sun and high heat; once established, requires minimal supplemental watering — an ideal choice for hot, dry summers.
• Stunning Exfoliating Bark: As the season progresses, the peeling cinnamon-toned bark reveals itself — a striking feature that adds winter interest long after the flowers fade.
• Rich Fall Foliage: Leaves transition to warm orange and red tones in autumn, extending the color display well into the season.
• Versatile in the Landscape: Works beautifully as a specimen, in a row for a flowering hedge, or in a large patio container.
• Low Maintenance: Minimal pruning needed — avoid “crape murder” (heavy topping) and let the natural form shine.

Growing Guide

• Light: Full sun (minimum 6 hours; more sun = more blooms)
• Water: Regular watering until established; drought-tolerant thereafter
• Hardiness: USDA Zones 6–9
• Mature Size: 8–12 ft. tall × 6–8 ft. wide
• Bloom Time: Midsummer through fall (July–October)
• Available Sizes: 1–2 ft. (3G & 5G), 2–3 ft.

Plant it where the afternoon sun hits hardest — that's exactly where the Scarlet Colorama™ will reward you most, blazing red while everything else retreats into the shade.

Pair It With

• Pugster Blue® Butterfly Bush — cool blue summer blooms that create a stunning contrast alongside the scarlet crape myrtle
• Eastern Redbud Tree — brilliant pink spring blooms that carry the garden from early spring right up to the crape myrtle’s summer debut