The Razzle Dazzle® dwarf crapemyrtles are an exciting new series of crapemyrtles developed by world-renowned horticulturist and breeder, Dr. Michael A. Dirr. As the first series within the Gardener’s Confidence® Collection, the Razzle Dazzle® dwarf crapemyrtles have been developed with the trustworthy attributes of easy care and mildew resistance, as well as exceptional color and compact habit.
The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia sp.), native to SE Asia, is a widely popular woody ornamental flowering shrub/small tree throughout southeastern US landscapes appreciated for its profusion of showy blooms and their ability to withstand oppressive summer heat and humidity in full sun gardens. The rather obscure and perhaps nearly extinct L. fauriei, found only in the island of Yakushima, Japan has brought the most significant developments in the breeding of modern ornamental Lagerstroemia cultivars, contributing mainly with powdery mildew resistance, cold hardiness and handsome bark. This tree commonly exceeds a 33ft (10 m) height, with beautiful, exfoliating, dark red-brown bark in its stems.
Breeding programs in USA and Europe have generated, in the last three decades, a wide range of plant sizes (from miniature shrubs to tall trees), growth habits (broad, upright, weeping, etc.), cold hardiness (Zones 6-10), disease resistance (powdery mildew) and a wide range of bark characteristics, flower color and foliage fall coloration. Extensive breeding research at the US National Arboretum in Washington, DC, lead by Dr. Donald Egolf, has developed numerous cultivars, including the variety ‘Pocomoke’ that was chosen in 1989. Dr. Michael A. Dirr has derived his work at the University of Georgia, Athens, from Dr. Egoff’s selections as well as Carl Whitcomb’s program in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Working for over 27 years, Dr. Dirr has developed cultivars that are highly desirable in their habit, blooming time, and disease resistance.
