Lagerstroemia indica Coral Magic - Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica 'Coral Magic' is a new American cultivar of the Indian Lilac with generous summer flowering, in large clusters of beautiful salmon-pink that bloom from July to September. Its deciduous foliage emerges shiny green-red, becoming deep green in summer. This vigorous shrub has a bushy and compact habit, reaching a maximum size of 3 m (9.8 ft) in all directions at maturity. It is particularly resistant to diseases. Sun-loving and heat-loving, this variety will thrive best in warmer regions. With multiple advantages, Indian Lilacs are among the most beautiful summer-flowering shrubs. As such, they deserve a prominent place in the garden or on a terrace.

Lagerstroemia indica 'Coral Magic' belongs to the Lythraceae family. Lagerstroemia indica, from which it originates, is native to China. The cultivar 'Coral Magic' is a recent American selection from Plant Introductions, and it is part of their new series of cultivars called "First Editions"®. This very vigorous and well-branched shrub will reach a height of 2 m to 3 m (3.3 ft to 9.8 ft) at maturity, with a similar spread. Its growth is quite rapid. Its flowering generally starts in July and continues into early autumn, provided that faded flowers are removed regularly. The flowers are characterised by slender pedicels, each bearing five undulate-edged petals that compose the flower. The flowers, with a texture reminiscent of crêpe paper, are gathered in large, dense panicles at the ends of the current year's branches. In 'Coral Magic', the flowering is of a very intense salmon-pink. The foliage, tough and deciduous, emerges red and becomes shiny dark green. It is composed of small ovate leaves, which sometimes take on beautiful yellow or red hues in autumn, depending on the climate. Lastly, and to end on a beautiful note, its bark is truly stunning: smooth, beige striated with brown-red, and peeling off in coloured patches (cinnamon, faded red, old rose, cream).

Indian Lilac is a small tree that will make a good impression in a shrub bed, a flowering hedge, or emerging from a mound of perennials. Create a bed like a bouquet, with Campanula pyramidalis, Salvia sclarea, and Aster laevis. In autumn, plant alongside colourful asters for a wonderful display. In a large pot on a terrace, it provides a spectacle while summer blooms fade.

NB: Karl Von Linné named this tree to honour his friend Magnus Von Lagestroem (1696 - 1759), who had sent it to him from India for identification. Originally, this tree was used to decorate Chinese temples. We would like to point out that this tree produces fruits with narcotic effects if ingested.