Lagerstroemia 'Arapaho' 

The U.S. National Arboretum presents Lagerstroemia 'Arapaho', a vigorous, 

upright summer warrior with strong red flowers and glossy dark green leaves 

tinged with maroon. The narrow crown and outstanding powdery mildew resistance 

of 'Arapaho' further bolster its adaptability in the landscape. Make a bold statement 

with this unique new crapemyrtle!

Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 3501 New York Ave., N.E., Washington, DC 20002

U.S. National Arboretum Plant Introduction
March 2006

'Arapaho' Hybrid Crapemyrtle

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia 'Arapaho'

(NA 68972; PI 633034)

Family: Lythraceae

Hardiness: Reliably top hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 7b-9; root hardy to Zone 6

Development: In 1981, open-pollinated seed of Lagerstroemia limii was received from the Shanghai 

Botanic Garden, Peoples Republic of China. L. limii seedlings grown at the National 

Arboretum proved to be resistant to powdery mildew but exhibited none of the valued 

flower and bark characteristics of L. indica or L. fauriei. Hybridization of L. limii 

with L. fauriei, L. indica, and L. (indica x fauriei) hybrids began in 1986 under the 

direction of Dr. Donald Egolf and continues to the present time. A seedling from the 

1989 hybridization was selected for evaluation in 1996, officially named 'Arapaho', 

and released July 18, 2003. The cultivar name 'Arapaho' was registered with the 

International Registration Authority for Cultivated Lagerstroemia and approved, 

August 23, 2003.

Significance: 'Arapaho' is the first hybrid crapemyrtle cultivar derived from controlled hybridization of three species of Lagerstroemia: L. indica, L. fauriei, and L. limii. It represents another major breakthrough in crapemyrtle breeding from the U.S. National 

Arboretum.

Description: Height and Width: 19.5 feet tall with a crown width of 9.75 feet at 13 years.

Habit: Deciduous, multiple- or single-stemmed, medium-sized, upright tree with 

exfoliating bark to reveal light tan trunk.

Foliage: Glossy, heavy-textured, dark green leaves tinged with maroon. Highly 

mildew tolerant. Red-purple to maroon fall color.

Flowers: Panicles of near true red flowers produced from July to September in the 

Washington, DC, area.

Fruit: Persistent, dark brown, woody capsule.

Culture: 'Arapaho' grows and flowers best in full sun in a heavy loam to clay soil with a pH 

of 5.0-6.5. Will grow in partial shade though flowering will be reduced. Grows well 

in hot, difficult sites.

Propagation: Readily propagated by softwood, semi-hardwood, hardwood, or root cuttings. 

Softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings under mist, 1000-3000 ppm IBA, are the 

preferred methods. Hardwood cuttings can be rooted in cold frames in late fall and 

early winter.

Landscape Use: Specimen, avenue or mass planting in public parks or gardens, good potential as 

flowering street tree or in highway beautification plantings.

Availability: Available at the wholesale level in 2003. Projected retail availability 2006. For 

source list of cooperating wholesale nurseries, contact Dr. Margaret Pooler, U.S. 

National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave., NE, Washington, DC, 20002.

U.S. National Arboretum Plant Introduction

Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit

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