The Crape Myrtle, occasionally misspelled Crepe Myrtle, is a flowering deciduous or evergreen tree that gardeners frequently use to bring a flash of color and delight to the garden. … These vibrant accents are small to medium sized flowering trees that display showy, vivacious colors in spring and summer.
Is Lagerstroemia a perennial?
Lagerstroemia are half hardy perennial shrubs. They reach from about 30 cm to 4 m in height, and bloom from the middle of summer until the first frost of winter. The shrub carries pink, white, or purple panicles.
Do crepe myrtles lose their leaves?
Since the crepe myrtle is a deciduous tree, it sheds all its leaves in the winter, leaving behind the beautiful bark on the tree, which makes it a prized tree in many yards. … When the leaves fall off and the bark is shedding from a crepe myrtle tree, you will then have beautiful colored wood to mark your yard.
What happens if you don’t prune crepe myrtles?
Many varieties have beautiful bark and growth habits that can be enjoyed all year if trees are not heavily pruned. This unsightly, ugly pruning known as crape murder is not recommended. Once it’s done, it ruins the tree’s graceful natural shape for the rest of its life.
What is the best time to plant crepe myrtles?
Late fall to early spring is the best time to plant. But a lot of folks buy and plant their crepe myrtle in summer because they select it while it is blooming. That works too, but watering well during the summer months is crucial to transitioning it into your garden.
Where is the best place to plant a crepe myrtle?
Crape Myrtle Trees need plenty of sun, so choose a bright sunny spot for your planting. They are idea for those hot, dry places where other plants do not thrive, so take advantage of that and use them in places that can be hard to fill.
Do crape myrtles have invasive roots?
Crepe myrtle trees are lovely, delicate trees offering bright, spectacular flowers in the summer and beautiful fall color when the weather begins to chill. … You don’t have to worry about this issue because crepe myrtle tree roots are not invasive.
Can you plant a crepe myrtle near your house?
You can plant crape myrtle near the foundation as they have non-invasive roots, according to Dayton Nursery. However, be sure to plant them far enough away from the foundation and the building so the shrub can grow to its full size without being blocked by the building.
Do wax myrtles lose their leaves in winter?
QUESTION: Our Wax Myrtle bushes tend to lose all their foliage during the Winter months and each year seem to flesh out their leaves less with each passing Spring.
What colors are crepe myrtle?
Flowers come in a variety of colours, from deep reds, to hot pinks, purples and white. Foliage: Most varieties colour well in autumn with leaf colours ranging from bright red, deep maroon, vibrant yellow, pink and burnt orange, all on the one tree.
Do crepe myrtles stay green all year?
The crepe myrtle in winter will have no leaves. They are deciduous shrubs, so their leaves change color and eventually die and fall off in autumn.
Does wax myrtle stay green all year?
Wax myrtle, botanically called Morella cerifera (formerly Myrica cerifera), is a fuss-free large shrub or small tree with a good personality. It’s always green, aromatic and attractive along shorelines and wetlands.
Is crepe myrtle a bush or a tree?
Crapemyrtle (Crape Myrtle)Lagerstroemia indica. The common crapemyrtle is a deciduous, small to medium sized shrub or small tree with a variable, moderately dense habit, often multi-stemmed form.
Where should you not plant crepe myrtles?
In particular, another bad place for a crepe myrtle is right in front of a window. Although smaller varieties (less than 12 inches) might be fine, others can grow large enough to completely block windows. They can also lean over roofs and rub up against gutters and clog them with flowers.
What can I plant next to my crepe myrtle?
The 6 Best Plants to Plant under Crepe Myrtle Trees
- Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) The Rose of Sharon bush perfectly compliments a crepe myrtle tree. …
- Creeping lilyturf (Liriope spicata) The roots of your crepe myrtle tree are very shallow. …
- Lantana. …
- Hibiscus. …
- Rain Lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora) …
- Coreopsis.
How long do crape myrtles live?
Crepe myrtles live quite a few years if you take care of them. A crepe myrtle lifespan can exceed 50 years. So that’s the answer to the question “how long do crepe myrtle trees live?” They can live a good, long time with suitable care.
Do crape myrtles need full sun?
To help your crape myrtle look its very best… Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive. With less sunlight, blooms will not be as prolific and their colors may be diminished. These plants are not demanding about the pH of their soil, though neutral or slightly acidic soils are best.
How much room do crape myrtles need?
General Recommendations. Crape myrtles are fast-growing trees — often growing 24 inches or more in one season. Most varieties grow between 10 and 30 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide. They should be planted to accommodate their mature width with at least 15 feet between each shrub.
Do crape myrtles need a lot of water?
To prevent the plant from dying, it must be watered once a week. Be sure to soak the entire root system deeply, this will take about 45-60 minutes. For best growth and production, crape myrtle should receive at least one inch of water a week. During dry spells, water is mandatory.
What month do crepe myrtles bloom?
The lovely, long-lasting blooms make them attractive. Most years, crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June. Flowering continues for 90-120 days depending on the variety.
How do you take care of a crape myrtle in the winter?
Preparing Your Crape Myrtle for Winter
- We recommend feeding your plant with a fertilizer, like Espoma Holly-tone.
- Make sure there is 2 – 3″ of mulch over the root system. …
- Be observant. …
- If your Crape Myrtle has a number of spent blossoms, you can remove these blossoms after the Crape Myrtle has dropped its leaves.
Which crape myrtle is the best?
Natchez is recognized as the top performing crape myrtle in the southeastern United States. It was introduced by the U. S. National Arboretum in 1987. White flowers and exfoliating bark are characteristic of this cultivar, which reaches heights of 30 feet at maturity.