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The strawberry dazzle is a semi-dwarf variety of the crape myrtle, making it an excellent choice for small gardens and potted plants. The strawberry dazzle is known for its showy nature. Its neon-rose flowers and glossy green foliage can quickly transform a gloomy scenery into a vibrant burst of color. The shrub is also resistant to powdery mildew, drought, heat, and deers.
Strawberry dazzle crape myrtle needs good spacing, moderate watering, and full sun exposure to thrive. Established plants are easy to maintain, with occasional pruning to shape the plant to a perfect size and encourage a prolonged blooming period.
Lagerstroemia ‘Strawberry Dazzle’ Crape Myrtle Profile
| Names | Dwarf crape myrtle, strawberry dazzle crape myrtle, razzle dazzle crape myrtle, berry dazzle crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia berry dazzle |
| Size | 3-4 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide |
| Soil type | Moderately moist, well-draining |
| Soil pH | 5.5-7.0 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sun exposure | Full sun |
| USDA zones | 6, 7,8,9 |
| Bloom time | summer |
| Flower color | Hot pink or neon-rose |
| When to prune | Late winter to early fall |
| Root system (type) | Shallow fibrous roots |
Origin and names
The strawberry dazzle is a cultivar of the crape myrtle trees or shrubs which belong to the genus Lagerstroemia. The crape myrtle is from the Lythraceae family and is native to southeast Asia, India, and Japan.
The strawberry dazzle is also known as the dwarf crape myrtle, dwarf crepe myrtle, razzle dazzle crape myrtle, or Lagerstroemia berry dazzle.
Size
Since it’s a dwarf cultivar of the crape myrtle, the strawberry dazzle only matures to 3-4 feet tall, with the same width size. It’s usually kept as a small, rounded shrub, perfect for small gardens or grown in containers placed on porches, patios, or balconies.
Blooms and foliage
The razzle dazzle crape myrtle blooms from early summer to later in the season. It displays brilliant, hot pink flower clusters in early summer, with deep burgundy foliages. , The foliages transition to glossy green later in the season while the blooms remain neon- rose throughout the season. Deadhead pruning can encourage newer, prolonged blooms until fall.
Growth rate
The strawberry dazzle grows slowly, taking several years to attain its maximum height of 4 feet. Its small stature and slow growth rate make it a perfect potted plant choice for small spaces.
How to grow and care for Strawberry Dazzle crape myrtle
Straw berry crape myrtle needs intermediate care to keep them healthy. Below are the best ways to grow and care for your razzle dazzle shrub.
Spacing when planting
Since it’s a dwarf species, the strawberry dazzle grows only into a small shrub, which doesn’t necessarily need a lot of space and is thus perfect for small gardens and foundations.
When planting strawberry dazzle in your yard, dig the holes 4 feet apart enough to accommodate the plant’s width if it grows denser.
Place potted strawberry dazzle crape myrtles about 4 feet apart from each other.
Light
As a crape myrtle cultivar, the berry dazzle shrub requires full sun to thrive and produce massive flower clusters in hot summers. The planting location should have at least six hours of full sun exposure daily.
The shrub will perform poorly in partial or complete shade, significantly affecting blooming and the plant’s health.
Soil type and pH
Various soil types can sustain the razzle dazzle shrub in containers or on the landscape. The soils should always be moderately moist and well-draining. Clay, loam, and sand can make a suitable growing media if you prime them to drain correctly.
Adding 2-3 inches of mulch around the topsoils can be necessary to help dry soils retain moisture for the plant.
Slightly acidic or neutral soils with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 can be conducive to growing strawberry dazzle crape myrtle.
Water
The strawberry dazzle requires moderate watering after establishing. It has good tolerance to drought and heat. Water immature plants more often to maintain moderately moist soil to help them root.
However, it’s not advisable to overwater your strawberry dazzle in summer and spring when actively growing. Excess irrigation reduces flower production and can lead to root rot disease on the shrub.
USDA hardiness zones
The razzle dazzle crape myrtle thrives in locations with warm summers and mild winters. The USDA hardiness zones 6-9 are the most favorable for growing strawberry dazzle. These zones have a minimum winter temperature of -5oF to 30oF, which the strawberry dazzle can survive.
The table below shows the USDA plant hardiness zones and states where the berry dazzle can be grown successfully.
| USDA zone | States |
| 6 | New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Connecticut, Missouri, Alaska, and Kansas. |
| 7 | New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Idaho, Massachusetts, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alaska, New York, Oklahoma, Nevada, Missouri, Utah, and Washington D.C |
| 8 | Georgia, Alaska, South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oregon, Washington, Florida, and Alabama, |
| 9 | Arizona, Florida, California, Texas, Oregon, and Nevada. |
Pruning
The strawberry dazzle cultivar can survive without pruning. However, trimming shapes the shrub, removes damaged parts, and removes deadheads for prolonged blooming in summer.
This shrub should be pruned in late winter or early fall when it is still dormant and hasn’t grown new leaves.
Since the strawberry dazzle blooms on new wood, you can clip the end of their branches to encourage flowering before fresh leaves appear.
Remove the shrub’s weak, damaged, or injured stems at any time of the year.
Also, remove old or damaged flowers in the summer to encourage the buds to produce newer flowers and prolong the blooming period. Removing seedpods is not usually necessary but can be done to make the shrub tidy and prevent the seeds from scattering in the surrounding areas.
Is Lagerstroemia Berry Dazzle evergreen?
Lagerstroemia berry dazzle is not evergreen. It is a deciduous, dwarf cultivar that goes dormant in winter and fall, shedding most of its leaves. The plant becomes active in early spring, and new foliages begin growing from the buds.
References
- North Carolina State Extension: Popular Crape Myrtles Available in Smaller Sizes.
- Clemson Cooperative Extension: Crape Mrytle.