How to Care for Black Diamond Crape Myrtle Fast-Growing Low Maintenance Plants

These plants are popular for their fast growth, low maintenance, and dense foliage that can be planted in the ground or as an indoor plant. Today we’ll discuss how to care for Black Diamond Crape Myrtle Plants so they can grow into vibrant landscapes in your yard or garden!

Features of the Black Diamond Crape Myrtle Tree

Height and Spread

Black Diamond Crape Myrtle can grow up to 15 feet tall and wide. It is much more slow-growing than other shrubs, so be aware of this if you have a specific goal for how big you want the shrub to get, especially if your yard has limited space.

Leaves

The leaves are a dark green, and the flowers on this plant can be red, white or lavender-ish in color depending on genetics. The small berries that form after flowering will turn from purple to black when they ripen, but it is normal for these trees to drop their fruit before maturity if there’s not enough water available to the plant.

The leaves will turn purple in their second year of growth, but don’t worry, this is normal for a mature plant. The best time to propagate new plants from your black diamond crape myrtle tree is when the branches or stems have flowers.

When do Flowers Bloom?

When do Flowers Bloom? Flowers on Black Diamond Crape Myrtle can bloom at any time during the year. It will depend on how much sun and warmth it gets in its location, as well as if there is enough water available for blooming to occur.

To get your plants to bloom, you will need a warm climate that contains at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. You can also help trigger blooming on these low-maintenance plants by watering them well and fertilizing up until the last week in July or early August when it gets too hot for growth.

It is important not to fertilize or water these plants in the late winter months of October through December, as they need to go dormant and start growing again when warmer weather arrives.

The flowers bloom from July until November (depending on your climate) then die back after about a week. The leaves will continue to grow for most of the year and you should only fertilize and water these plants from March through October.

The blooming period lasts about a week, but the leaves will continue to grow for most of the year after that. You should only fertilize and water your crape myrtle in this low maintenance plant during warm months between March and October.

Let’s Take A Look At The Colors

Red Hot Black Diamond Crape Myrtle

The Red Hot Black Diamond Crape Myrtle is a tough, fast-growing plant that is a cross between the Black Diamond Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) and the Ruby Red crape myrtle.

Best Red Black Diamond Crape Myrtle

The best red Black Diamond Crape Myrtle is the Red Sensation. This variety of crape myrtle has deep-red leaves all year long and dense clusters of orange blooms in late summer to early fall.

Crimson Red

The Crimson Red Crape Myrtle is the most popular variety of this tough, fast-growing plant. The leaves are deep red all year long and it has dense clusters of orange blooms in late summer to early fall.

White

The White-Black Diamond Crape Myrtle has white flowers and leaves. It is a favorite for many homeowners because it can be planted in full sun or partial shade.

Blush

Blush Black Diamond Crape Myrtle has pinkish-reddish foliage and is among the coldest hardy varieties of this plant. It also blooms in late summer to early fall with dense clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers that are about an inch wide.

Purple

The Purple Black Diamond Crape Myrtle is a striking plant with purple leaves and blooms. It has pink flowers that are smaller than other varieties of this plant.

Fruit Crape Myrtle

This tree can produce fruit that can be eaten – but it is not a true fruit. Yes, the tree produces small round berries that are about an inch in diameter and will turn red if left on the tree long enough to ripen, though they are still tart when fully ripe.

The berries contain seeds that will sprout easily once planted. The fruits are not edible, just decorative.

The fruit is a type of berry that grows on the tree and can be eaten – but they are too tart to eat when fully ripe. The berries contain seeds that will sprout easily once planted.

Water Requirements

The Crape Myrtle does not need much water. The tree can tolerate drought conditions and still survive but will grow better if it is watered regularly.

It grows well in areas with dry climates as long as they are occasionally watered. It cannot handle frequent watering so should be avoided by those in areas with wet climates.

Lighting Requirements

This tree needs plenty of light, but it does not need direct sunlight. If the plant gets too much sun, its leaves will dry out and turn brown. The plants should be placed in areas with at least six hours of natural or artificial light each day for optimal growth rates.

Temperature

It can withstand a wide range of temperatures, but cannot handle the freezing cold. The tree is hardy to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit with no frost protection in between those two extremes. It prefers warmer climates that are close to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Humidity Requirements

Black Diamond prefers to be in humid climates. They can survive on either side of the spectrum, though they will grow faster and have a longer lifespan when placed in an area with 60-80% humidity levels. The trees also require the soil to always be moist (but not wet) so it is important to ensure they are never in a location where water is unable to reach the roots at all times.

Soil Requirements

Soil is a vital component in the life of Black Diamond Crape Myrtle Trees. They require soil that has been amended with plenty of organic matter so it can retain water and nutrients while also providing drainage for when they are watered. The best way to amend the soil if you do not have access to composted dirt or other natural materials is to mix in garden soil with an equal amount of peat moss.

The tree’s roots will need to be kept moist so it is important not only that they have access to water but also that the soil remains damp at all times, even after watering. If you are unable to give them water because their container does not have drainage, you will need to fill the container with stones that can absorb and hold water.

Fertilizer for Black Diamond Crape Myrtle

Black Diamond crape myrtle trees require a lot of fertilizer. If you are planting your tree in the ground, it is important to fertilize at least once every three years with an acidic type that contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphate. For container plants, use a liquid plant food instead because they can’t be watered as much.

It is recommended to fertilize twice a year for container plants because they can only get water every day or so, and it may not reach the roots if you are watering from above. You will also want to use a fertilizer that contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphate since these nutrients aren’t easily absorbed by plants in containers.

How To Prune

Pruning is a vital part of caring for black diamond crape myrtle. It promotes new growth and helps the plant to develop into a fuller shape. Pruning should be done in early spring when you can see buds forming on the branches, or anytime between February and April if there are no signs of bud development yet.

You can shorten the stem or branches to promote a bushier shape, simply pinch off any long stems that have grown and don’t fit in with your desired style.

It is also important not to prune this plant during winter because it needs time for its roots to recover before you start trimming them again.

How to Plant a Black Crape Myrtle Tree

Carefully dig a hole with the shovel that is three times as wide and deep as the root ball. Carefully place your black crape myrtle tree in this hole, making sure it’s at least four inches from any other plant or object.

Fill around the roots with soil but not too deep so you don’t cover more than one-third of them. Gently tamp down the ground to make sure there are no air pockets left where water could pool up during heavy rains. Lastly, add some mulch on top of all of this to keep moisture levels high and prevent weeds from popping up later on!

Check Out Top Selling Black Diamond Crape Myrtle

Last update on 2025-01-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a black diamond crape myrtle?

A: Black diamonds are tall, dense trees with dark green foliage. They grow to about 25-30 feet in height and width, and they require little care or maintenance once established. Their leaves have serrated edges that turn shades of red in the fall; their flowers range from white to pinkish-purple blooms in late spring through early summertime.

How many types of black craps exist?

A: There are three different varieties of black crapes which differ mainly by coloration – ‘Benson’s Black’ (dark blue foliage), ‘Variegated Blue’-leafed (green & white variegate leaf)and ‘Green Mountain’ (green foliage).

How much space do black crappes need to grow?

Black diamonds can be grown in a variety of spaces, the farthest one from your house is about 125 feet.

Benson’s Black Crape Myrtles are best suited for placement near doors or entrances because they both provide privacy and offer some protection from the weather. In contrast, Variegated Blue-leafed Crappe Myrtle is often used as an accent plant that requires less space, planted at least 25 ft away from your home on a border or side yard area; it also does well in large containers inside homes for year-round interest.

Finally, Green Mountains thrive with minimal care once established so are perfect for the most space-challenged gardens or as a hedge.

When to Plant Black Crape Myrtle?

Black crappes can be planted at any time of year but they do best with plenty of water in hot, dry climates and partial shade during their first several weeks.

Benson’s recommends planting black crappes on cloudy days because this will reduce transplant shock by keeping the plants root zone cool (we recommend watering thoroughly about an hour before planting).

Variegated Blueleafs can tolerate a little more sun than other varieties so are better suited for full sun locations where summers are very warm; however, these trees also enjoy being watered deeply once every couple of weeks throughout the summer months when temperatures start averaging 80 degrees or higher.