GreatMyrtle™ Cherry Delight Crape Myrtle

Light Needs

Full Sun

(6+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 9

GreatMyrtle™ Cherry Delight Crape Myrtle packs cherry-red flower clusters onto a naturally mounded plant that stays 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Lagerstroemia x 'G19234' stands out from larger crape myrtles because it starts earlier, stays dense, and fits foundation beds, patio pots, and front-of-border plantings with far less shaping. In colder gardens, the roots have shown strong cold tolerance and the plant can return from the base after winter dieback. We suggest this one to shoppers who want the crape myrtle look but do not want a shrub that drifts out of scale by midsummer.

This deciduous selection was bred for earlier flowering and a sturdier, more compact habit, with blooms carried above the rounded canopy through a long summer run. It brings the heat tolerance and pollinator appeal people expect from crape myrtle, while improved resistance to powdery mildew helps it stay cleaner than many older types in sunny sites with good air flow. In zone 5b and 6 gardens, it often behaves more like a dieback perennial, while in warmer parts of its range, it keeps more woody structure from year to year. Use it where a small shrub needs to carry color for months, such as along a walk, near a seating area, or repeated through a border where taller crape myrtles would feel oversized.

GreatMyrtle™ Cherry Delight Crape Myrtle Care

Plant GreatMyrtle™ Cherry Delight in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct light, for the fullest bloom set and the strongest branching. It grows best in well-drained loam or sandy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH around 5.5 to 6.8. In heavier clay, raise the planting area a bit or amend broadly so water moves through the root zone instead of lingering there.

Water deeply during the first growing season when the top few inches of soil start to dry, and check containers often once summer heat settles in. After establishment it handles short dry spells, but flowering lasts longer when the soil does not swing from soaked to bone dry. Feed in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. 

Prune in late winter or very early spring because it flowers on new wood, removing dead stems first and thinning any crowded interior growth. Skip hard topping, since that can spoil the rounded habit that makes this series useful in smaller spaces. In colder zones expect winter top growth to die back before new shoots emerge from the base in spring. In containers in zone 5 or 6, move the pot to a protected spot or insulate the root ball so repeated freeze-thaw cycles do not stress the crown.

GreatMyrtle™ Cherry Delight Crape Myrtle Spacing

Space plants about 30 to 36 inches apart for a full border line, or give them closer to 36 to 48 inches where summers are long and growth is a bit broader. For containers, one plant fits well in a pot at least 18 to 22 inches wide with room for roots and summer watering.

In the landscape, pair this crape myrtle with elephant Ears for bold leaf contrast and liriope at the base for a clean edging effect. In containers, try ajuga to trail over the rim and verbena to add a second layer of bloom below the upright canopy.

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