Quackin Grass Nursery

Lagerstoemia indica x ​fauirei ‘Tonto’ – 'Tonto' is a shrub form of Crapemyrtle, multi-stemmed and semi-dwarf. Showy panicles from 4” to 8” long by 3” to 5” wide composed of packed, glowing deep fuchsia red florets blossom forth in late season here, earlier farther south. The clean foliage emerges with some bronze, matures dark glossy green and turns an appealing shade of dark bronze-maroon late season, usually occurring with the flowers, a rich combination to be sure. The wood is dark brown with some exfoliation and attractive in the winter landscape. Although we are listing this beautiful form as hardy to USDA zone 6 friends who live in Putnam Heights in an area more elevated and slightly colder than we, are successfully growing ‘Tonto’ on the west side of their home. They certainly suffer through the occasional hard zone 5b winters yet the shrub survives for them with some occasional tip dieback from which it recovers. The folks at Environmentals told us some years back that they felt this was the hardiest selection yet - at least up to that point. Site ‘Tonto’ in full sun planted in fertile well-draining soil. In the north spring planting is advised. Cutting grown.