Black Diamond® Crystalline™ Crape Myrtle

1. Planting: Black Diamond® Multi Stem Crape Myrtles require full sunlight, approximately 6-8 hours a day, to maintain their black foliage. If planted in partial sun, their leaves may turn greener in hue.

Mix in compost to your soil, and then dig a hole twice the width of the tree’s container. Remove the tree from the container and then hold the stem straight while you fill the hole with soil.

Add a layer of mulch to help conserve water and suppress weeds, making sure the mulch does not touch the base and stem of the tree.

2. Watering: Water the tree often until the plant is established, approximately every other day for the first month. Once established, they require minimal supplemental watering. Mature Black Diamond® Multi Stem Crape Myrtles are drought-tolerant.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring once new growth begins to appear. Use a slow-release fertilizer designed for flowering shrubs. If you’re not seeing flowers by July/August, add a bloom booster fertilizer. 

4. Pruning: Prune sparingly to help shape the tree and encourage branching. Alternatively, you can keep the tree small and bushy by cutting back stems to your desired height. If the tree is not leafing out well in the spring, cut the plant back until you see green growth, and it will bush out again.