Lagerstroemia 'Pocomoke' Crape Myrtle

‘Pocomoke’ is a miniature hybrid crape myrtle hybrid (complex five generation cross generally described as L. indica x L. fauriei) that was begun in 1967 and completed in 1989 by the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Plants were introduced by commercial nurseries in 2000-2001.

'Pocomoke' is a deciduous, upright-spreading, densely-branched, dwarf shrub that typically grows over the first eight years to only 19" tall and to 35" wide but will grow taller and wider when grown in-ground or with more age. It primarily features (1) glossy, elliptic to oblong, dark green leaves that emerge maroon in spring, turn dark green in late spring, and finally turn bronze-red in fall, (2) terminal inflorescences of crepe-papery, deep rose-pink flowers that bloom from early/mid-summer to early fall, and (3) gray to tan bark which exfoliates with age. Flowers give way to round seed capsules which often persist well into winter.