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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296656
Title: 'Ebony Embers', 'Ebony Fire', 'Ebony Flame','Ebony Glow' and 'Ebony and Ivory' Dark-Leaf Crapemyrtles

Author
item Pounders Jr, Cecil
item Scheffler, Brian
item Rinehart, Timothy - Tim

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2013
Publication Date: 12/1/2013
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/58325
Citation: Pounders Jr, C.T., Scheffler, B.E., Rinehart, T.A. 2013. 'Ebony Embers', 'Ebony Fire', 'Ebony Flame','Ebony Glow' and 'Ebony and Ivory' Dark-Leaf Crapemyrtles. HortScience. 48(12)1568-1570.

Interpretive Summary: The Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, in announces the release to nurserymen of five Lagerstroemia indica burgundy leafed crapemyrtle clones. ‘Ebony Embers’, ‘Ebony Fire’, ‘Ebony Flame’, ‘Ebony Glow’ and ‘Ebony and Ivory’ are recommended for trial by nurserymen and horticulturists as a flowering woody landscape plant in hardiness zones 6-9. Plants are particularly adapted to conditions in the southeastern U.S. 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 crapemyrtle plants. The clones are easily propagated by softwood stem cuttings under intermittent misting systems. The best rooting material should be taken from actively growing stock plants.

Technical Abstract: ‘Ebony Embers’, ‘Ebony Fire’, ‘Ebony Flame’, ‘Ebony Glow’ and ‘Ebony and Ivory’ are cultivars which are predominantly L. indica in heritage that combine persistent black-purple leaves and a range of flower colors with intermediate growth habits. ‘Ebony Embers’ has a vase shaped growth habit with dimensions of 1.9 m tall and 1.1 m wide at 4 years and is the last of the five clones to flower. Leaves are approximately 5 cm by 3 cm. Emerging leaves mature to a deep burgundy with color remaining stable throughout summer heat. Panicles are normally 10 cm in length and 10 cm in width on the terminal ends of branches. Striking red individual flowers measure 3 cm by 3 cm . ‘Ebony Fire’ has a globe shaped growth habit with dimensions of 1.5 m tall and 0.6 m wide at four years and is the earliest of the five clones to flower. Deep burgundy sun-fast leaves measure 4 cm by 2.5 cm. Flower panicles average 12 cm in length and 9 cm in width on the terminal ends of branches. Bright red flowers are 3.8 cm by 3.5 cm. ‘Ebony Flame’ has an upright growth habit with dimensions of 1.7 m tall and 0.5 m wide at four years. Burgundy heat-stable leaves measure 5 cm by 2.5 cm. Inflorescences are normally 7 cm in length and 8 cm in width. Dark red flowers are 3.8 cm by 4 cm . ‘Ebony Glow’ has an upright spreading growth habit with approximate measuring 1.5 m tall and 1.0 m wide at four years. Sun-fast deep burgundy leaves are generally 5 cm by 3 cm. Inflorescences are usually 10 cm by 8 cm. Individual flowers are 2 cm by 1.5 cm that are initially light pink but quickly fade to white, ‘Ebony and Ivory’ has an upright growth habit measuring 1.7 m tall and 0.6 m wide at four years. Deep burgundy leaves measure 5 cm by 2.5 cm. Flower panicles are generally 14 cm long and 10 cm wide. White flowers are 4 cm by 3.5 cm with individual petals 7 mm by 16 mm.