Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
A superstar in the garden that doesn’t act like a prima donna, the Center Stage Red Crape Myrtle steals the show in sunny gardens. The glossy, dark leaves set the stage for the blaze of long-lasting red flowers in summer. The deep purple and black foliage provides colorful interest all season long. Another major benefit of the richly hued foliage? It’s deer- and disease-resistant! This is a vigorous variety that has been improved to resist the diseases with which other crape myrtle species struggle.
Center Stage also has a narrow, upright growth habit that makes it a great choice for smaller spaces and tightly knit landscapes. This tidy habit also opens up a variety of landscape uses. Mix it with perennials and plant in landscapes to provide color year-round with its extraordinary foliage. They can also be used to form a low, colorful hedge.
Center Stage® Red Crape Myrtle Care
Plant Center Stage® Red Crape myrtle in full sun to achieve maximum disease resistance, bloom, and growth. Only water when soil is dry, as overwatering can reduce disease resistance of the plant. It is adaptable to most soil types except soggy soils. The combination of full sun and well-drained soil will lead to a thriving, colorful specimen. Crape myrtle prefers a slightly acidic soil with a pH ranging between 5 to 6.5.
This dwarf crape myrtle variety has a tidy growth habit that rarely needs to be pruned. However, if you’d like to prune them, do so sparingly in the early spring.
Center Stage® Red Crape Myrtle Spacing
Most crape myrtles do no react well to constant pruning, so Center Stage® Red Crapemyrtle is a great choice for smaller locations or narrow garden beds. However, it can still spread up to 8’! So maintain a good amount of space around this shrub, and plant give it around 8’ of space when selecting a site for it.
Center Stage® Red Crape Myrtle Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 7 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 6-12 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 8 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Red
- Flower Description
- Red
- Bloom Time
- Summer to Fall
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- Foliage Description
- Black
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Center Stage® Red Crape Myrtle
- Botanical Name
- Lagerstroemia indica 'SMNLCIBF' USPP 32,515
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Shrub
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!