Product Description
Lagerstroemia 'Like a Latte' PPAF (4) 1-gallons - BARISTA Collection
Lagerstroemia 'Like a Latte' is a captivating deciduous shrub that brings a unique color palette and elegant form to gardens. Here is a breakdown of its key features and growing requirements:
Characteristics:
- Flowers: Produces large, showy clusters of pure white flowers with crinkled edges in late summer and early fall. The blossoms resemble the foamy top of a latte, hence the name.
- Foliage: Emerges coppery-red with a glossy finish, then matures to a deep green with burgundy veining. This striking foliage provides a beautiful backdrop for the white flowers and adds visual interest throughout the growing season.
- Bark: Features exfoliating bark that reveals a smooth, mottled surface beneath, adding winter interest to the landscape.
- Growth Habit: A compact, upright, and rounded shrub that typically reaches 24-30 inches tall and wide.
- Hardiness: Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates.
Cultivation:
- Sunlight: Thrives in full sun (at least 6 hours per day) for optimal growth and flowering.
- Soil: Prefers well-drained soil and tolerates a variety of soil types, but flourishes in slightly acidic to neutral pH.
- Water: Water regularly, especially during the first growing season. Mature plants are drought-tolerant but benefit from occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells.
- Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Remove any dead or crossing branches and shape as needed. Avoid heavy pruning to maintain the plant's natural form.
- Fertilizer: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to encourage healthy growth and flowering.
Landscape Uses:
- Specimen Plant: Its unique foliage and attractive flowers make it a standout as a single specimen.
- Borders and Beds: Adds a touch of elegance and color to mixed borders and shrub beds.
- Containers: Well-suited for growing in pots on patios and balconies.
- Urban Gardens: Its compact size and tolerance to urban conditions make it ideal for city gardens.
Advantages:
- Unique Color Combination: The white flowers and burgundy-tinged foliage create a striking contrast.
- Compact Size: Perfect for smaller gardens or spaces where a larger crape myrtle would not fit.
- Long Blooming Season: Provides late-season color and interest.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established.
- Attracts Pollinators: The flowers attract bees and butterflies.
- Deer Resistant: Generally avoided by deer.
Overall, Lagerstroemia 'Like a Latte' is a delightful and versatile shrub that offers a unique combination of beauty, hardiness, and low maintenance. Its distinctive foliage, elegant flowers, and compact size make it a valuable addition to any garden.
(4) 1-gallon containers ready to plant, plants maybe trimmed for shipping,
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
