James H. Schutte
Family
Lythraceae
Botanical Name
LAGERSTROEMIA 'Tonto'
Plant Common Name
Dwarf Crapemyrtle, Tonto Crapemyrtle
General Description
The Tonto crapemyrtle is a mildew resistant hybrid shrub with bright magenta red flowers and dull red fall foliage. It is an upright shrub that can be used as an accent plant or as an informal hedge or screen. Its bark is beige and spring's emerging leaves are bronze. By trimming away the lower branches, 'Tonto' can be made into a very small, petite vase-shaped tree.
Tonto is a hybrid of Japanese crapemyrtle with the common crapemyrtle that was made at the United States National Arboretum.
Crapemyrtles should be planted in a well-draining soil with pH range 5.5 to 7.5. Full sun is mandatory for best flowering and overall plant fullness and form. They are quite drought tolerant once established. Pruning should only be done on the small spent branch tips after the initial summer flowering. Often a smaller, second flowering can result by early autumn. 'Tonto' has a tendency to produce many small twigs that die and make the canopy look untidy.
The practice of severely pruning the crowns of crapemyrtles, called hat-racking, is a bad and unhealthy landscapers' practice. It does not lead to heavier flowering.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
11 - 6
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 10
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
7'-10' / 2.1m - 3.0m
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Width
5'-6' / 1.5m - 1.8m
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Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Hybrid Origin
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Red, Magenta
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Fruit Color
Green, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green, Bronze
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Red
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Bark Color
Tan, Chocolate, Gray
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Bark Color Modifier
Spotted/Mottled
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes
