Lagerstroemia indica 'Tuscarora' (Tuscarora Crape Myrtle)

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Lagerstroemia, Genus, indica, Species, 'Tuscarora', Cultivar,

Genus & species
Cultivar

tuscarora crape myrtle

Lythraceae

Hybrid (L. indica × L. fauriei); L. indica native to China, Korea, Japan; L. fauriei native to Japan

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Lagerstroemia indica 'Tuscarora' is a coral-pink crape myrtle, a multi-stemmed deciduous tree reaching 180-300 inches (450-750 cm) tall and 144-240 inches (360-600 cm) wide at 15-20 years. Coral-pink crinkled crepe-paper-textured flowers form panicles 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) and bloom from mid-July through October, totaling approximately 14-16 weeks. An interspecific hybrid of L. indica × L. fauriei from the U.S. National Arboretum breeding program (Egolf, 1981), named for the Tuscarora people. Powdery mildew resistance is higher than pure L. indica cultivars due to L. fauriei parentage; bark exfoliation is more prominent, with mature wood showing smooth mottling in cinnamon, gray, and cream tones. Four-season interest: summer coral-pink panicles; fall orange-red foliage in October-November; winter exfoliating bark; spring bronze new growth. Blooms form on current-season wood. Severe topping ('crape murder') eliminates the natural vase form, removes the bark display, and produces weak watersprout regrowth. Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) and crape myrtle aphid (Tinocallis kahawaluokalani) are the main pests; aphid honeydew supports sooty mold. Hardy in USDA zones 7-9. Non-toxic. Drought-tolerant once established.

Native Range

Lagerstroemia indica is native to China, Korea, and Japan, occurring in open woodlands and disturbed sites. L. fauriei (the second parent) is native to forested mountainsides on Yakushima Island, Japan. 'Tuscarora' was bred by Donald Egolf at the U.S. National Arboretum in the 1960s and released in 1981.

Suggested Uses

Used as a specimen, multi-stemmed street tree, lawn tree, or screening planting in zones 7-9, spaced 144-240 inches (360-600 cm) apart for closed canopy or 240+ inches (600+ cm) for open structure. Drought tolerance and heat tolerance suit it to urban planting strips, parking lot islands, and southern climates. Container culture is rarely successful at landscape scale because the mature canopy exceeds practical pot sizes.

How to Identify

Identified by coral-pink crepe-paper-textured flower panicles on a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with smooth exfoliating cinnamon-gray-cream bark visible on mature wood. The coral-pink color separates it from white (L. 'Natchez'), purple (L. 'Catawba'), and red (L. 'Sioux') hybrids in the National Arboretum series. Indica × fauriei hybrid parentage produces both the bark display and improved mildew resistance.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 25'

Width/Spread12' - 20'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Flowers: July–October

Summer Fall

Mid-July through October in zones 7-9 with peak August-September. Each panicle blooms 3-4 weeks; deadheading spent panicles by removing the seed-forming heads produces a second flush in 4-6 weeks for total bloom of 14-16 weeks. Coral-pink color holds without fading in moderate sun; full afternoon sun in zones 9-10 may cause slight color shift toward salmon. Petals drop without staining surfaces below.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Coral-pink, crepe-paper texture, in panicles

Foliage Description

Dark green; orange-red in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5 (Acidic to neutral)

3579

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun (6+ hours) supports vigorous growth and full bloom; partial shade produces fewer panicles and increases mildew pressure. Well-drained soil with pH 5.0-6.5 is suited; the species tolerates clay where drainage is adequate. Drought tolerance develops after 2-3 years of regular watering. Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) skeletonize foliage in July in eastern U.S. populations; crape myrtle aphid (Tinocallis kahawaluokalani) produces sticky honeydew that supports sooty mold, and crape myrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is an emerging concern in southern states. Powdery mildew is reduced compared to pure L. indica cultivars but not eliminated. Hardy in USDA zones 7-9.

Pruning

Pruning is timed to late winter or early spring (February-March) before new growth begins; flowers form on current-season wood, so spring pruning does not eliminate bloom. Removing crossing, inward-growing, and rubbing branches and thinning the interior maintains the multi-stemmed vase form and the bark display on mature wood. Severe topping at 4-6 feet (120-180 cm) destroys the form and produces weak watersprout regrowth that requires staking. Removing seed heads in fall shortens late-bloom dormancy break.

Pruning Schedule

Prune: February–March

winterearly spring