Red Rocket Crape Myrtle vs. Dynamite: Which One Is Better ...

Red Rocket Crape Myrtle vs. Dynamite: Which One Is Better?

Flowering plants and trees can have a considerable impact on your landscaping and overall curb appeal. Crape Myrtle trees are very popular, but with many different varieties, it can be difficult to know which to choose. Between the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle and Dynamite Crape Myrtle, which is the best for your lawn?

Thanks to its striking appearance, the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle is a better choice than the Dynamite Crape Myrtle. Red Rocket Crape Myrtles have two-foot clusters of cherry-red flowers that maintain their color even during cloudy weather. They bloom through most of the summer, and they grow quickly at a rate of five feet per year.

In contrast, Dynamite Crape Myrtles have cherry-red flowers that can appear pink depending on the weather. Their flower clusters are smaller at 16 inches, and they grow more slowly, about three feet per year.

What Is Red Rocket Crape Myrtle?

The Red Rocket Crape Myrtle is a tree known for its beauty. From its gorgeous colors to flower petals that resemble crepe paper, a Red Rocket adds visual interest to your landscaping. It works well as part of a mixed border or as a standalone plant.

Red Rocket Crape Myrtles can grow up to 30 feet in height with a spread of 20 to 25 feet. Ideal conditions for this tree include at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Red Rocket Crape Myrtles flourish in moist, well-drained soil.

Pros of Red Rocket Crape Myrtle

One of the biggest advantages of Red Rocket Crape Myrtles is that they produce huge clusters of cherry-red flowers. In fact, these clusters can grow to be two feet long. The tree itself grows very quickly, up to five feet each year.

Red Rocket Crape Myrtles grow in an attractive rounded shape, and they’re truly beautiful plants. They feature unique bark, orange and red fall colors, and crimson-colored flowers. Plus, Red Rockets bloom all summer long, and their vibrant shades earn them plenty of attention.

The Red Rocket is the lushest and most voluminous of the Crape Myrtle varieties. It retains color well, attracts bees, and provides a habitat for birds. In addition, it’s great at tolerating both heat and drought.

In comparison to other varieties of Crape Myrtle, the Red Rocket is the most popular. It’s resistant to deer and mildew, and it’s very low-maintenance overall.

Cons of Red Rocket Crape Myrtle

You may run into issues with Red Rocket Crape Myrtle trees because they grow very quickly. If you prefer a more compact size and slower growth, a Red Rocket may not be best for you.

Although Red Rocket Crape Myrtles are very resistant to insects and other pests, aphids may cause problems at times. Aphids are small insects that can spread viruses and suck the nutrient-rich liquid from plants. Some insecticides may be necessary to manage aphid infestations.

What Is Dynamite Crape Myrtle?

Like the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle, the Dynamite Crape Myrtle is also popular thanks to its gorgeous blooms. Often called the “lilac of the South,” the Dynamite Crape Myrtle produces cherry-red flowers that are wrinkled like crepe paper.

Dynamite Crape Myrtles can grow up to 25 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. Full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil are the ideal conditions for this tree to flourish.

Pros of Dynamite Crape Myrtle

Dynamite Crape Myrtles have many impressive features, starting with their gorgeous cherry-red flowers that bloom in April and May. The rounded shape makes this type of tree great as either a specimen plant or part of a mixed border.

Another feature of Dynamite Crape Myrtle trees is their beautiful leaves. They initially emerge with a crimson color before maturing to dark green. The leaves, paired with 16-inch red flower clusters and yellow stamens, make this tree truly striking.

Similar to the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle, the Dynamite Crape Myrtle provides a habitat for birds and attracts bees. It has drought and mildew resistance and overall is low-maintenance and easy to care for.

Cons of Dynamite Crape Myrtle

One notable drawback to Dynamite Crape Myrtles is that their flowers are smaller and less impressive. These trees also have a slower growth rate of about three feet per year.

Another downside of Dynamite Crape Myrtles is that the flowers appear light pink rather than bright red during cold weather. Like the Red Rocket, Dynamite Crape Myrtles can also be negatively affected by aphids.

Red Rocket Crape Myrtle vs. Dynamite Crape Myrtle: Evaluation Criteria

Here we’ll compare the Red Rocket and Dynamite Crape Myrtle trees in three different areas. If you’re trying to choose between the two, these comparisons should be helpful for you.

Growth Rate And Size

Red Rocket and Dynamite Crape Myrtles grow to roughly the same size when they’re fully mature. At first, the Red Rocket will be larger because it has a higher growth rate of five feet per year. Meanwhile, the Dynamite grows three feet per year but will eventually get close to the Red Rocket in size.

Those who want to grow a flowering tree as quickly as possible prefer the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle. However, others prefer the slightly slower growth of the Dynamite Crape Myrtle.

Flowers

The Red Rocket Crape Myrtle has cherry-red flowers without visible stamens. Meanwhile, the Dynamite Crape Myrtle has cherry-red flowers with contrasting yellow stamens. However, the Dynamite Crape Myrtle’s flowers can appear light pink during cold or cloudy weather.

In addition, the Red Rocket produces larger flower clusters that can grow up to 24 inches. In contrast, the Dynamite has smaller 16-inch clusters that appear more round.

Maintenance

Both types of Crape Myrtles are very low-maintenance and easy to care for. The Red Rocket and Dynamite Crape Myrtles both need six hours of direct sunlight each day. In addition, both grow the best when they’re planted in moist, well-drained soil.

How To Plant A Crape Myrtle

Step 1: Remove The Packaging

When planting a Crape Myrtle, you’ll first need to take off all wrapping materials. Be sure to leave the tree in its pot until you’re ready to plant it. Remember never to lift your Crape Myrtle by the stem or trunk.

Step 2: Water The Tree

Place your tree outdoors in a shady area and give it a good watering. After a couple of days, you can move it to a sunny location. This prepares your Crape Myrtle for planting.

Step 3: Prepare The Planting Site

Choose a sunny spot with moist, well-drained soil as your planting site. Next, dig a hole that is just as deep and twice as wide as the tree’s root ball. The night before planting, water your Crape Myrtle so its root ball is damp.

Step 4: Place And Water The Tree

Gently slide the pot off of your Crape Myrtle and place it in the center of the hole. You should still be able to see the top of the root ball when you’ve finished planting the tree.

Step 5: Backfill The Soil

Replace about 75% of the soil, making sure to press it down around your Crape Myrtle’s roots. The soil should be flat around the tree, rather than sloping downward.

Step 6: Add Mulch And Fertilizer

Add two to three inches of mulch around your tree, and use a high-nitrogen fertilizer each year in early spring. After you’ve planted your Crape Myrtle, it’s easy to care for it. Simply water it once a week, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful flowers in no time!

Related Questions

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Crape Myrtle is not poisonous to dogs. It is non-toxic and perfectly safe for both humans and animals.

Crape Myrtles are deciduous trees, which means that they lose their leaves in the fall. Most types of Crape Myrtle bloom in the summer and have brilliantly-colored orange and red foliage in the fall. Once the first hard frost of the season comes along, they begin to lose their leaves.

Crape Myrtle tree roots are not invasive. When planting a Crape Myrtle, you don’t have to worry about the roots harming nearby plants and structures. The roots are relatively weak, and they will not interfere with foundations, sidewalks, or other plants.

Red Rocket Crape Myrtle vs. Dynamite Crape Myrtle: The Final Verdict

Although most would consider the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle to be the better choice, some prefer the Dynamite variety instead. When choosing between the two, it really comes down to your own personal preferences.

Color Preference

If you prefer cherry-red flowers that maintain their color, then the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle is a great choice. But if you’d rather the flowers shift from pink to red depending on the conditions, choose the Dynamite Crape Myrtle.

Growth Rate Preference

Be sure to keep the Crape Myrtles’ growth rates in mind as well. If you want a flowering tree that will grow as quickly as possible, then the Red Rocket is perfect. But if you prefer a slower-growing tree, the Dynamite makes more sense for you.

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