Plant of the Week: Crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica

Presented by the Dept. of Urban Forestry, 474-TREE

Familiar with summertime in the South, crape myrtles are beginning to bloom out, or have been blooming in the last week, in rich colors of red, purple, pink and white. When other small ornamental trees are finished blooming, the crape myrtle adds a brillant flush of color to our landscapes. The father of nomenclature, Carl Linnaeus, named the crape myrtle after his friend, Swedish botanist Magnus von Lagerstroem, who died in 1759. The species name of indica, which means the plant originated from India, is actually a misnomer. The crape myrtle was introduced to the United States in 1747 from its actual habitat of China and Korea.

At first glance, the plant?s leaves have a striking similarity to privet, which should never be planted. The leaves can be either opposite, alternate or whorled in threes and are 1-2 inches long and _ less than one inch wide being dark green at maturity and changing to fall colors of yellow, orange and red with many on the same tree. The bark is smooth, gray, exfoliating and exposing an underbark of different variations. Crapemyrtles grow fast, are hardy to parts of zone 6, and can grow to heights of 15-25 feet depending on the winter conditions. They need to be planted in well-drained, moist soil preferably in full sun for best bloom performance. Try finish any pruning by early August to insure cold hardiness in the winter months. Also, crape myrtles are prone to many disease and insect problems and need serious maintenance to look effective.

Mostly planted for their bloom characteristics, crape myrtles are often overlooked for their fall color, attractive bark and variety in mature heights as evidenced by the numerous cultivars available on the market. To find the best-recommended cultivars, contact the US National Arboretum. Crapemyrtles are used in the landscape as either a small specimen tree or in groups with a groundcover planted under them, or as a screen or hedge. For further questions, please contact the Department of Urban Forestry at 474-TREE or 474-8733.