"Truly amazing" are words used to describe the dwarf 'Pocomoke' crape myrtle. Released by the U.S. National Arboretum in 1998, this cultivar features deep, rose-pink flowers in mid to late summer. 'Pocomoke' thrives with the same cultural conditions as that of a typical crepe myrtle plant. Transplant in full sun to ensure a beautiful floral display in July and August. Like all crepe myrtles, 'Pocomoke' is a deciduous shrub that drops its leaves each autumn. This drought and disease-tolerant plant needs a 3-foot spacing between shrubs reaching a maximum mature height and width of 5 feet. 'Pocomoke' crepe myrtle can be included in large mass plantings or in small groups to create a low-growing hedge or foundation planting. It works well in containers and can add some color to a small space or rock garden. If seasonal color and a low-growing mature height are important to you, then this is the showstopper plant for your garden. Pruning should be completed in winter or early spring, as this plant blooms on new wood. A layer of organic mulch will help keep the plant retain moisture. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Some susceptibility to aphids and scale. Fungal leaf spot, powdery mildew. are occasionally diseases problems. Chlorosis occurs in the leaves of plants in alkaline soils. More information on Lagerstroemia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withLagerstroemia 'Ruby Dazzle'
Fills a similar nicheBuddleja Lo & Behold® 'Pink Micro Chip'Hydrangea serrata 'Omacha Variegata'Spiraea japonica Limemound® 'Monhub'
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-inch-long glossy oval leaves are green in summer and bronze-red in fall. Margins are entire and leaf arrangement is opposite. New leaves are maroon, turn dark green and in fall are bright red.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Terminal panicles of rosy-pink blooms summer to fall. Flowers are numerous, irregular, and 1 inch wide. They commonly have 6 petals, are clawed, and cristate.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Round capsules remain on shrub into the winter.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is gray to tan which exfoliates with age.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Patio; Small Space
Landscape theme
Rock Garden
Design feature
Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#long bloom time #flowers early summer #deciduous shrub #showy flowers #deciduous #small shrub #slow growing #red leaves #flowers mid-summer #pink flowers #flowers late summer #fall interest #dwarf #exfoliating bark #glossy leaves #flowering shrub #fall color red #flowers early fall #mass planting #low hedge #hedge #small groups
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Crapemyrtle Aphid; Crape Myrtle Pest Management Calendar; Crapemyrtle Flea Beetle; Pests of Crape Myrtle; Crapemyrtle Bark Scale