Lagerstroemia Center Stage™ Red

A Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrubs variety

Bring bold summer color to your garden with Lagerstroemia Center Stage™ Red, a compact crape myrtle known for its vibrant red blooms and dark foliage. This shrub has unique, beautifully contrasting color and delivers a season-long display of cherry-red flowers with its glossy, nearly black leaves. Blooming from midsummer through early fall, it offers color and texture well beyond most flowering shrubs. Its naturally narrow, upright habit—maturing at 6 to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide—makes it perfect for small spaces, containers, or as a striking vertical accent in a border or foundation bed.

Center Stage™ Red is bred for disease resistance, mildew tolerance, and high flower production, even in heat and humidity. It's a member of the Lagerstroemia indica species, known for blooming on new wood—meaning a light prune in early spring encourages even more abundant flowering. This variety's tidy form requires little shaping, making it especially appealing to gardeners who want maximum impact with minimal effort. The deep burgundy-black foliage holds its color all season, intensifying the brightness of the cherry-red panicles that attract pollinators.

This crape myrtle grows happily in full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils. Once established, it exhibits moderate drought tolerance and grows reliably across USDA Hardiness Zones 6b to 10. Use it as a standalone feature, massed along a fence or walkway, or in patio containers for season-long interest. It's an excellent solution for hot, sunny gardens that need color, structure, and dependable performance.

Explore our full range of flowering shrubs, discover easy-care perennials, or find inspiration with more heat-tolerant shrubs.