Tuscarora Crape Myrtle

Light Needs

Full Sun

(6+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

15-20 Feet

Mature Spread

10-20 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 9

Tuscarora Crape Myrtle turns up the color with saturated coral-pink flower clusters that keep coming from midsummer into fall. The upright, small-tree form shows off smooth, mottled cinnamon-brown bark and healthy, clean foliage for interest well past bloom time. The large crepe-textured panicles bloom in summer above green foliage that turns orange-red in fall. Also known as Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Tuscarora', this National Arboretum hybrid is known for a rounded to vase-shaped habit and good mildew resistance. 

This deciduous crape myrtle can be grown as a large shrub, multi-trunk specimen, privacy screen, or street tree where summer heat and sun are reliable. It tolerates urban conditions, clay soil with good drainage, and dry periods once established. The exfoliating bark adds winter interest after leaf drop, while the fall foliage shifts through red-orange tones before dormancy. Use it to frame a driveway, anchor a sunny property corner, or repeat along a long border where the coral-pink flowers can carry the view through late summer.

Tuscarora Crape Myrtle Care

Plant Tuscarora Crape Myrtle in full sun for the best flowering, giving it at least 6 hours of direct light per day. It grows in average, well-drained soil, including loam, clay, or sandy soils, as long as water does not collect around the roots. A slightly acidic soil pH around 5.0–6.5 is preferred, though this variety is adaptable in many garden soils.

Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season so the root system develops beyond the original planting hole. Once established, water when the soil is dry several inches down, especially during long hot stretches. Feed in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer.

Prune in late winter to early spring before new growth begins. For a multi-trunk form, thin young plants to 3–7 main trunks or canopy branches, then remove suckers from the base as they appear. Avoid topping; instead, remove crossing, crowded, dead, or inward-growing branches to keep the canopy open and naturally shaped.

Tuscarora Crape Myrtle Spacing

Space Tuscarora Crape Myrtle 15–20 feet from other trees, large shrubs, buildings, and hardscapes so the canopy can mature without constant correction. For screening, plant each tree 12–15 feet apart in a staggered row and let the lower branching fill in naturally. For containers, use only as a young temporary patio tree in a 24–30 inch planter with drainage before moving it into the ground. Grow landscape specimens with yew shrubs for evergreen structure, salvia for summer pollinator color, and sedum at the front for late-season texture.

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