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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283255
Title: Notice to nurserymen of the naming and release for propagation of Ebony Glow crapemyrtle

Author
item Pounders Jr, Cecil
item MCLAURIN, WAYNE - Mississippi State Extension Service

Submitted to: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cultivar Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Registration
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2013
Publication Date: 12/1/2013
Citation: Pounders Jr, C.T., Mclaurin, W. 2013. Notice to nurserymen of the naming and release for propagation of Ebony Glow crapemyrtle. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cultivar Release. 48(12):1568-1570.

Interpretive Summary: not applicable

Technical Abstract: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Research Service Washington, D.C. and MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY Starkville, MS NOTICE TO NURSERYMEN OF THE NAMING AND RELEASE FOR PROPAGATION OF ‘EBONY GLOW’ CRAPE MYRTLE The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, in cooperation with Mississippi State University, announces the release to nurserymen of Lagerstroemia indica ‘EBONY GLOW’, a new burgundy leafed crapemyrtle clone. This cultivar is recommended for trial by nurserymen and horticulturists as a flowering woody landscape plant in hardiness zones 6-9 and is particularly adapted to conditions in the southeastern U.S. ‘EBONY GLOW’ was selected for its exceptional environmental stress tolerance, burgundy leaves, light pink to white flowers and extended flowering season. The texture, form and scale of the plant are ideally proportioned for inclusion as a component of foundation plantings and other landscape applications under conditions generally suited for medium stature crape myrtle plants. ‘EBONY GLOW’ resulted from a cross-pollination of Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit I’ crape myrtle as the female parent and an ‘Chocolate Mocha’ crape myrtle as the male parent. The new crape myrtle was selected at the Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory in Poplarville, MS as a superior burgundy leafed plant (PCM38) within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination growing under intermittent stress conditions including full sun, cool spring nights, high humidity and summer drought generally considered to be conducive to development of the common crape myrtle diseases powdery mildew, Erysiphe lagestroemia, and Cercospora leaf spot, Cercospora lythracearum. ‘EBONY GLOW’ has displayed a high level of field resistance to both diseases in combination with other desirable horticultural traits including good tolerance to moisture stress, an intermediate growth habit (2 to 4 meters), very light pink flowers over an extended bloom season, and dark burgundy colored foliage that is persistent from spring through fall. Plants of ‘EBONY GLOW’ have an upright spreading growth habit with approximate dimensions of 1.6 meters tall and 0.7 meter wide after 5 years. Branching of plants is well structured with good foliage cover. Leaves are opposite, keel shaped with an acuminate apex, cuneate base, entire margins, measuring approximately 5 cm in length and 3cm in width with pinnate venation. Leaves are dull Greyed-Purple 187A maturing to Black 202A with color remaining stable throughout summer heat. Inflorescences average 10 cm in length and 8 cm in width on the terminal ends of branches with 30 or more flowers per panicle. Flower buds are Red-Purple 59A, rounded, 6mm in diameter and 9mm in length. Flowers have 6 fan shaped petals, with individual flowers measuring 2cm in length and 1.5cm in width. Petals are 15mm wide x 19mm wide with ruffled apex, ruffled margins and sagittate bases. Flowers are generally Red-Purple 69D during the heat of the first day, and then fade to White 155D. Plants develop rapidly in containers and are tolerant to fluctuations of environmental conditions such as heat and moisture. ‘EBONY GLOW’ is easily propagated by softwood stem cuttings under intermittent misting systems. The best rooting material should be taken from actively growing stock plants. Plants of this crape myrtle clone have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary slightly due to environmental changes such as light intensity and temperature with no alteration of genotype. Asexual propagation of the clone over multiple cycles has demonstrated retention of major distinguishing traits. Color designations are according to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001. Hardiness ratings are based on Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA Misc Publ. 814.