Delta Moonlight Crape Myrtle

Light Needs

Part Shade to Full Sun

(3+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

8-12 Feet

Mature Spread

4-6 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 9

Delta Moonlight Crape Myrtle pairs crisp white summer flowers with deep burgundy foliage that holds its dark coloring through the heat of the season. Lagerstroemia indica ‘Delea’ develops an upright form about 8 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, a more comfortable size than most mature crape myrtles. Large white flower panicles rise above curved maroon leaves from summer into early fall, followed by reddish-purple foliage as temperatures cool. The flower color looks especially clear against the dark canopy when this tree is viewed from across a patio or open lawn.

This deciduous selection belongs to the Delta Series, bred for dark foliage, strong heat tolerance, and good resistance to powdery mildew. Its moderate-to-fast growth can be maintained as a multi-stemmed shrub, clipped into an informal screen, or gradually trained into a small tree with a rounded canopy. The narrow mature width works well beside driveways, at sunny foundation corners, or as a repeating accent through a long border. Established plants also handle short dry periods well, making them practical for warm landscapes with limited summer irrigation.

Delta Moonlight Crape Myrtle Care

Plant Delta Moonlight Crape Myrtle in full sun with at least six hours of direct light each day for strong foliage color and abundant flowering. It grows in clay, loam, sand, or silt provided the soil drains freely. Slightly acidic soil with a pH around 5.5 to 6.5 is preferred, though the plant adapts to a broad range of well-drained garden soils.

Water deeply during the first growing season, checking the soil before each irrigation and keeping the root zone moderately moist. Once established, reduce watering and provide a thorough soaking during extended heat or when leaves begin to lose firmness. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring before active growth begins, using a light hand in most garden soils. A 1- to 2-inch mulch layer helps moderate moisture and root-zone temperature, but leave several inches clear around the trunks.

Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins, removing dead, crossing, or inward-growing branches and preserving the natural framework. Avoid severe topping, which produces weak shoots and distorts the canopy. Spent flower clusters may be removed during summer to maintain a tidier appearance. Lower branches can be gradually thinned over several seasons when developing a tree form.

Delta Moonlight Crape Myrtle Spacing

Space plants about 4 to 5 feet apart on center for a connected hedge or screen, and 8 to 10 feet apart when growing individual specimens. A young plant can be maintained in a substantial container at least 24 to 30 inches wide, though its eventual height makes a larger permanent planter or landscape placement more practical long term. Use a freely draining potting mix and monitor container moisture closely during hot, windy weather.

Delta Moonlight Crape Myrtle Companion Plants

Grow Delta Moonlight Crape Myrtle with Russian sage and daylilies in sunny borders, as they tolerate heat and their lower profiles will keep the dark canopy fully visible. Include fountain grass because its narrow leaves and arching form provide a lighter texture beneath the upright tree. In a large seasonal planter, verbena can fill and trail around a young crape myrtle while tolerating the same strong sun and well-drained conditions.

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