Purple Crape Myrtle

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Phoenix's Best Fast-Growing Purple Flowering Tree — Purple Crape Myrtle Purple Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is the premier fast-growing purple flowering tree for the Phoenix Valley. This stunning deciduous tree produces massive clusters of rich lavender-purple blooms all summer long — from June through September — delivering months of vibrant color when most other flowering plants shut down in the heat. It grows 3–5 feet per year and reaches 20–25 feet tall with a graceful, vase-shaped canopy. Whether you're creating a bold color statement in Scottsdale, adding summer interest in Chandler or Gilbert, or establishing a fast privacy screen in Mesa or Tempe — Purple Crape Myrtle delivers spectacular results, season after season. Purple Crape Myrtle Plant Details Attribute Detail Scientific Name Lagerstroemia indica Common Names Purple Crape Myrtle, Lavender Crape Myrtle, Crape Myrtle Tree Mature Height 20–25 feet Mature Width 15–20 feet Growth Rate Fast — 3–5 feet per year in Phoenix Sun Full sun (6+ hrs). Thrives with Phoenix's intense reflected heat. Water Low once established. Highly drought-tolerant after year one. USDA Zones 7–11 (Phoenix is Zone 9b–10a — grows vigorously) Soil Well-draining. Adapts to Arizona caliche soils. Foliage Deciduous — drops leaves in winter; orange-red fall color Bloom Season June through September (peaks July–August) Bloom Color Rich lavender-purple Pet Friendly Yes — safe for dogs and cats Purple Crape Myrtle Uses in Phoenix Landscapes Summer Color Anchor and Focal Point Purple Crape Myrtle is one of the most reliable summer color sources in the Phoenix Valley — producing dense lavender-purple bloom clusters from June through September even when temperatures exceed 110°F. Its rich purple color creates extraordinary contrast against tan stucco walls, white masonry, and the bright blue Phoenix sky. Plant it as a bold standalone specimen in a decomposed granite yard in Scottsdale or Chandler for a dramatic focal point that commands attention all summer. Fast Privacy Screen and Street Tree With a 3–5 foot annual growth rate and upright vase-shaped form, Purple Crape Myrtle quickly creates both height and visual screening along property lines. Its multi-stem base and full canopy provide coverage from ground to 20+ feet, making it effective as both a privacy screen and a tall street tree along driveways and entries. Plant 8–10 feet apart for a dense privacy row along a fence line in Gilbert, Mesa, or Peoria. Planting density: 30 ft fence line — 3 trees / 60 ft fence line — 6 trees Modern Desert and Purple Color Theme Purple Crape Myrtle's rich lavender-purple blooms make it the anchor plant for purple-themed desert landscape designs popular across the Phoenix Valley. Pair it with Chaste Tree (another purple summer bloomer), Texas Sage (silver foliage with purple blooms), and Purple Ruellia for a monochromatic purple design theme that looks spectacular from June through September. This combination is one of the most frequently requested contemporary desert landscape palettes in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Fall Color in the Desert Like all Crape Myrtles, the Purple variety delivers stunning orange-red fall foliage before dropping leaves in November — providing a rare autumn color show in the Phoenix Valley. This makes it one of the few desert trees with three distinct seasonal displays: lavender spring buds, rich purple summer blooms, and vibrant orange-red fall color. This triple-season interest makes it exceptional value in any Phoenix landscape design. Best Time to Plant Purple Crape Myrtle in Phoenix Fall planting (October–November) is ideal. Warm soil encourages root establishment while cooler air temperatures minimize transplant stress. A fall-planted Purple Crape Myrtle develops its root system over 6–8 months before its first Phoenix summer. Spring planting (February–April) is the second-best window and allows the tree to begin blooming its first season. Avoid summer planting when possible — heat stress combined with transplant shock can slow establishment significantly. How to Plant Purple Crape Myrtle Dig wide, not deep — Dig the hole 2–3x the width of the root ball, same depth as the root ball. Never plant too deep — this is the #1 cause of crape myrtle failure in Arizona. Check for caliche — Break through any hardpan caliche layer to ensure drainage. Standing water causes root rot. Backfill with native soil — A light 20% organic blend is fine. Avoid heavy amendment mixes that prevent roots from establishing into native soil. Spacing — Plant 8–10 feet apart for a privacy row; 15–20 feet apart as individual specimen trees. Build a water basin — Form a 3–4 inch earthen ring 18–24 inches from the trunk to direct irrigation water to the root zone. Mulch — Apply 2–3 inches of bark mulch or decomposed granite around the base (keep away from the trunk) to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Watering Purple Crape Myrtle in Phoenix First Year Watering Schedule Weeks 1–2: Water every 1–2 days, deep and slow (20–30 minutes). Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days. Month 3–6: Every 7–10 days (every 5–7 days during June–September peak heat). After Year 1: Every 10–14 days in summer; every 3–4 weeks in winter. Once fully established, Purple Crape Myrtle is highly drought-tolerant and blooms most heavily with consistent summer irrigation. Drip Irrigation Place drip emitters 18–24 inches from the trunk. Use 2–4 GPH emitters running 1–2 hours per session for deep water penetration. Established crape myrtles (3+ years in ground) typically need supplemental irrigation only during peak summer heat — Phoenix's monsoon season from July through September reduces the irrigation load significantly. How fast does Purple Crape Myrtle grow in Phoenix? Purple Crape Myrtle is a fast grower in Phoenix, adding 3–5 feet per year under full sun. A 5-gallon tree planted in fall can reach 10–15 feet within 2–3 seasons. Phoenix's long hot summers and intense sun create ideal crape myrtle growing conditions. Is Purple Crape Myrtle drought tolerant once established? Yes. After the first full year in the ground, Purple Crape Myrtle becomes highly drought-tolerant and thrives on deep, infrequent watering. It blooms most heavily with regular summer irrigation but can survive periods of drought once established. Overwatering is the most common mistake — soggy soil causes root rot. Does Purple Crape Myrtle bloom in extreme Phoenix summer heat? Absolutely — this is its greatest strength. Purple Crape Myrtle blooms heavily even when temperatures exceed 110°F, making it one of the best trees for Phoenix summer color. The lavender-purple blooms stay vibrant from June through September when most other flowering plants are dormant. Should I prune my Purple Crape Myrtle? Avoid "crape murder" — the damaging practice of topping or severely cutting back crape myrtles. This creates weak growth, knobby trunks, and fewer blooms. Instead, remove only dead or crossing branches in late winter. Select a correctly-sized variety at purchase rather than trying to keep an oversized tree small through heavy pruning. Is Purple Crape Myrtle pet friendly? Yes. Purple Crape Myrtle is considered non-toxic and safe for dogs and cats, making it an excellent choice for pet-friendly Phoenix backyards. It's tagged as pet-friendly and is popular with homeowners who need both ornamental and animal-safe plantings. You May Also Like White Crape Myrtle — Same fast growth and summer bloom habit as the Purple, but with pure white flower clusters for a crisp, clean landscape contrast. Dynamite Red Crape Myrtle — The red-flowering counterpart with identical heat and drought tolerance but vivid crimson blooms for bold warm-color landscapes. Chaste Tree — A drought-tolerant summer-blooming tree with lavender-purple spikes that complements Purple Crape Myrtle in color-themed desert designs. Desert Willow — Another fast-growing Arizona flowering tree with orchid-like blooms that pairs beautifully with Crape Myrtle in mixed privacy screens. Texas Sage — A low-water shrub with silver foliage and purple blooms that provides the perfect low-growing complement to Purple Crape Myrtle's tall purple blooms. How Many Purple Crape Myrtle Do I Need? Use the mature spread of 15 to 20 feet to set spacing. Tighter spacing makes a fast privacy row; wider spacing lets each tree develop its full vase-shaped specimen form. Run length Privacy row (8 to 10 ft on center) Specimen spacing (15 to 18 ft) 20 ft 3 trees 2 trees 40 ft 5 trees 3 trees 60 ft 6 to 7 trees 4 trees For a single focal point, one well-placed tree against a light stucco wall carries the whole summer display. Purple Crape Myrtle Season-by-Season in Phoenix Spring (Feb to Apr): Leafs out from bare winter branches and pushes new growth. A strong secondary planting window, with bloom buds forming as heat builds. Summer (May to Sep): The signature season. Dense lavender-purple clusters open in June and keep coming through September, blooming reliably even past 110°F. Monsoon humidity from July to September eases the irrigation load. This is the heat performer most desert trees cannot match. Fall (Oct to Nov): Prime planting season, and a second show: foliage turns orange-red before dropping. Cooling soil lets roots establish ahead of next summer. Winter (Dec to Jan): Fully deciduous and bare, showing off smooth mottled bark. Reliably cold-hardy for the Valley, down to roughly 5°F, so Phoenix frost is no concern. Late winter is the time for light corrective pruning only. At a Glance ✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Heat-Loving (Reflected-Heat Tolerant) ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Shade-Providing ✔ Low-Maintenance ✔ Cold-Hardy to 5°F Plant It With White Crape Myrtle: the same fast growth and summer bloom in crisp white for a two-tone color row. Desert Willow: another fast desert flowering tree with orchid-like blooms for a mixed screen. Texas Sage: a silver-leaved purple bloomer that anchors the purple theme at shrub height. Desert Ruellia: a low evergreen mound of purple flowers that carries the color to ground level. Is Purple Crape Myrtle Right for Your Yard? It thrives in full sun and reflected heat, in well-draining soil broken through any caliche layer so water never stands at the roots. It is the right tree if you want months of summer purple, fast height for screening, and a flush of fall color, with no frost worries in the Valley. It is not a fit if you want year-round evergreen cover, since it drops every leaf in winter, or if the only spot available stays soggy, where root rot is the main risk. Show more