Description:
The Crape Myrtle ‘Bellini Raspberry’ is a compact, deciduous flowering shrub prized for its bright, raspberry-pink summer blooms. The flowers appear in dense clusters at the ends of branches, creating a vivid and long-lasting display throughout the warm season. Its rich green foliage provides a lush background for the vibrant blooms and transitions into warm-toned fall colors before dropping. Despite its smaller size, ‘Bellini Raspberry’ offers the same desirable features as larger crape myrtles, including attractive, lightly exfoliating bark that adds subtle texture and visual interest year-round.

Size:
‘Bellini Raspberry’ is a dwarf variety, typically reaching 3 to 4 feet in height with a similar 3 to 4-foot spread, making it ideal for small gardens, borders, foundation plantings, and container use. Its naturally rounded, compact form requires minimal shaping.
Available Size: 3 Gallon.

Best Growing Zones:
This variety performs best in USDA hardiness zones 6–9, thriving in warm climates with long summers. Full sun exposure—6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily—is essential for maximum flowering and healthy, dense growth. Once established, ‘Bellini Raspberry’ shows good drought tolerance and can handle periods of dry weather.

Soil Requirements:
‘Bellini Raspberry’ prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil but adapts easily to sandy, loamy, or clay soils, provided drainage is sufficient. Adding compost or other organic matter during planting improves soil structure, nutrition, and overall plant performance.

Maintenance:
This compact crape myrtle is low-maintenance and requires only minimal care. Light pruning may be done during the growing season to remove spent flowers or maintain shape. More selective pruning, such as removing dead or weak branches, should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Mulching around the base helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect shallow roots.