Lagerstroemia indica Black Solitaire Best Red - Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica 'Black Solitaire Best Red' is a recent introduction of Indian lilac that has black ebony-like foliage and large conical spikes of bright red flowers that last for over three months in summer. Belonging to the Black Solitaire range, it forms a fairly compact bushy shrub with rapid growth and an upright habit. Its flowering is one of the earliest in the series. From July, dark buds burst into generously creased flowers that temporarily remain pale red before turning intense bright red and then pale red as they age until September. It is an exceptionally robust selection that demonstrates hardiness down to -15 °C (5 °F), excellent resistance to powdery mildew, and good drought tolerance. It is the perfect shrub for hot and sunny locations, provided it is given a rich, well-drained soil that remains moist in the early summers. Take advantage of its original charm to create contrasting, contemporary, and colourful scenes: in pots on your balconies, in your borders, or lined along a pathway.

Lagerstroemia indica 'Black Solitaire Best Red' is a new variety that is part of a carefully selected series of hybrids in Texas from the 'EBONY' varieties, characterised by very dark foliage. Not exceeding 3 m (9 ft 10 in) in height, these Indian lilacs are also distinguished by their fairly rapid growth and ease of cultivation in any well-drained soil.

'Black Solitaire Best Red' belongs to the Lythraceae family, just like the Lagerstroemia indica from which it originates. The latter is native to China. This variety has an upright, bushy habit and moderate growth. It will reach an average height of 3 m (9 ft 10 in) with a width of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in). Its growth is rapid. It chooses July to start its flowering, which continues until September. The inflorescences are composed of slender pedicels, each bearing five petals with undulate edges, reminiscent of crepe paper. They are gathered in dense panicles at the tips of the current year's branches.

In 'Black Solitaire Best Red', the pedicels and flower buds are a purplish-red, then the flower buds open widely in a beautiful bright red shade that fades over time. The colour of its flowers is between the dark red of the 'Black Solitaire Red Hot' variety and the bright red of 'Black Solitaire Crimson Red'. The centre of the flowers is brought to life by fine golden-yellow stamens. The coriaceous, deciduous foliage is a deep black that never fades, even under intense sunlight. It is composed of small ovate and pointed leaves with a glossy appearance. Lastly, and to end on a beautiful note, its bark, as it ages, is very interesting: smooth, beige streaked with grey, and reddish-brown, it peels off in more or less coloured patches (cinnamon, faded red, old rose, cream).

It is in isolation, near the house, that you can fully enjoy its generosity. It also looks good in a shrub border, a flowering hedge, or emerging from a mound of perennials. Create a border like a bouquet, with Nepeta, Salvia sclarea, jamensis, or Aster laevis. In autumn, it accompanies the beautiful autumn foliage of Cotinus and deciduous euonymus. In a large pot on the terrace, it puts on a show while summer blooms fade. We envisage a simple tricoloured plant carpet as a ground cover to highlight the Indian lilac. A carpet of Stachys byzantina, Nepeta mussini, and silver baskets will dress the base of its trunk, emphasising the beauty of its bark, its flamboyant autumn foliage, and its intensely coloured flowering.

NB: Karl Von Linne named this tree to pay tribute to his friend Magnus Von Lagestroem (1696-1759), who had sent it to him from India for identification. Originally, this tree was used to decorate Chinese temples. It should be noted that this tree produces fruits that have a narcotic effect if ingested.