Lagerstroemia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lah-ger-STROH-mee-ah
- Description
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Crape myrtle is a genus of 49 species and many cultivars of perennial, deciduous and evergreen shrubs or small trees with showy summer to fall blooms in the Loosestrife family. These species and cultivars vary in height (from 3 feet to more than 20), flower color, growth habit, and bloom season. Most cultivars are hybrids (the most common being a cross of Common Crape Myrtle with Japanese Crape Myrtle). The genus is named after the 18th century Swedish botanist Magnus von Lagerstroem who directed the Swedish East India Company and was a friend of Linnaeus. The common name refers to the crepe-papery inflorescences and the myrtle-like (Myrtus communis) features of the bark and foliage.
Crape myrtle does best in full sun and average medium moisture, well drained soil. The plant will tolerate loamy, clay soils with good drainage, but overly fertile soils tend to produce lush foliage at the expense of flowering. Water roots deeply, particularly in dry spells, but avoid wetting the foliage. Crape myrtle tends to do well in warm, Southern climates, but it may be wise to plant in a protected location and apply a winter mulch. If the plant fails, it is usually due to the lack of summer heat to encourage vigorous growth and harden the wood.
Crape myrtle, in general, are tough and cold hardy. In warmer areas many can be grown as trees, but in colder climates they may be killed to the ground and resprout to be grown more as shrubs. The plant can be hard pruned, but such pruning tends to produce poor form, fewer flowers, and poorly attached stems and shoots that tend to break off. If pruning is needed, it is best to do it by late summer to enable the new growth on which next year's blossoms appear to establish itself before winter.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and scale are occasional insect pests. Powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot are common disease problems. Bark scale can infest bark, twigs, and leaves, but infected limbs can be removed to control the pest. If planted in alkaline soils, the leaves will show chlorosis (yellowing). Winter injury, particularly to top growth, may occur in USDA Zones 5 and 6.
- See this plant in the following landscape s :
- Floricyle A Sampling of Shade Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Apalachee' (L. indica x L.subcostata var. fauriei)
first mildew resistant hybrid, 12 ft tall, 8 ft. wide, light lavender flowers, orange to red fall foliage - Bellini® (Series different colors: Grape, Raspberry, Strawberry, Guava)
3 to 4 feet tall and wide, compact, early-blooming shrub, mildew resistant - Berry Dazzle® 'GAMAD VI'
dwarf, fushsia-purple flowers, new leave burgundy red - 'Bicolor'
Miniature, weeping, 3 to 4.5 ft. tall, bicolor flowers of reddish-pink and white, Dixie Series - Cherry Dazzle® 'Gamad I'
Razzle Dazzle series. 3-5 ft. shrub, compact habit, cherry red flowers, red-purple fall foliage, disease resistant - 'Chickasaw' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
Miniature, 1 to 2 ft tall, 1.5 to 2 ft. wide, pinkish-lavender flower, good disease resistance - 'Choctaw' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
3 to 18 ft. tall, upright, spreading, bright pink flowers, bronze to maroon foliage in the fall, mildew resistant - 'Comanche' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
Shrub, 3 to 11 ft. tall, 3 to 12 ft. wide, coral pink flowers, dark orange to dark red-purple fall foliage, mildew resistant - Dazzle® Me Pink 'Gamad V'
Razzle Dazzle series. 3-4 ft., 3-4 ft, wide, dwarf shrub, pink flowersfall foliage. - Early Bird™ Lavender 'JD818'
semi-dwarf, 5 to 6 ft. tall, 3-4 ft. wide, upright to weeping habit, early blooming, lavender flowers, yellow fall foliage - Early Bird™ Purple 'JD827'
Dense, 5- 8 ft. tall, 3 to 4ft. wide, shrub, purple, frilly flowers over a long season, grayish bark, beige inner bark.
Early Bird™ White 'JD900'
- 'Lafayette'
Miniature, weeping shrub, 0.75- 1.5 ft tall and wide, white-lavender flower, bloom late spring to fall (Dixie Series)
Lagerstroemia indica (Common Crape Myrtle)
- Lagerstroemia indica 'Country Red'
8 to 10 ft. tall, 4 to 5 ft. wide, upriht spreading tree, bright red flowers, dull yellow-orange fall foliage - Lagerstroemia indica 'Mardi Gras'
Small, weeping shrub, 2-3 ft. tall and wide, bright purple flowers late spring to fall. - Lagerstroemia indica 'New Orleans'
1 to 3 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide, weeping shrub,. purple flowers summer to fall. - Lagerstroemia indica 'Pixie White'
Miniature, weeping, 1-2 ft. tall and wide, shrub, white flowers summer and fall (Dixie Series). - Lagerstroemia indica 'Victor'
Compact, globular shrub, 3-6 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide, deep red flowers, yellow-red fall foliage
Lagerstroemia limii (Zhejiang Crape Myrtle)
- 'Lipan' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
13 to 20 feet tall, upright small tree, medium lavender flowers, orange-rust colored fall foliage, nearly white bark
'Pocomoke' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
- 'Tonto' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
4 to 11 ft. tall, large globe-shaped shrub, fuchsia flowers, maroon fall foliage, cream to taupe bark, mildew-resistant - 'Yuma' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
12 to 18 ft. tall, 12-15 ft wide, bicolor lavender flowers, yellow-orange fall foliage, light gray bark, mildew-resistant
Early blooming and reblooming from mid-May to fall; shrub, 5 to 8 ft tall, 3 to 4 ft wide, broad-habit, pure white blooms
Tree or shrub, 3 to 15 ft. tall, pale brown to gray bark, elliptical green leaves, panicles of bright flowers
Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, up to 12 ft. tall, dark brown, peeling to redder bark, densely pubescent flower clusters Lagerstroemia speciosa (Giant Crape Myrtle or Pride of India)
Grows 30-60 ft. tall, 30-40 ft. wide, erect, vase-shaped, with large leaves and flower clusters up to 1-2 ft. long Lagerstroemia subcostata var. fauriei (Japanese Crape Myrtle)
Grows 20-30 ft. tall, more cold-hardy, cinnamon bark, light green leaves, 2-4 inch long clusters of white blooms
Miniature, 2-5 ft. tall and wide, upright, spreading, rose-pink flowers mid summer to fall, bronze-red fall foliage. 'Ruby Dazzle'
2 to 5 ft. tall, 3-5 ft. wide, pink flowers, the lowest growing of the crape myrtles - 'Apalachee' (L. indica x L.subcostata var. fauriei)
- 'Apalachee' (L. indica x L.subcostata var. fauriei), Bellini® (Series different colors: Grape, Raspberry, Strawberry, Guava), Berry Dazzle® 'GAMAD VI', 'Bicolor', Cherry Dazzle® 'Gamad I', 'Chickasaw' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Choctaw' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Comanche' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), Dazzle® Me Pink 'Gamad V', Early Bird™ Lavender 'JD818', Early Bird™ Purple 'JD827', Early Bird™ White 'JD900', 'Lafayette', Lagerstroemia indica (Common Crape Myrtle), Lagerstroemia indica 'Country Red', Lagerstroemia indica 'Mardi Gras', Lagerstroemia indica 'New Orleans', Lagerstroemia indica 'Pixie White', Lagerstroemia indica 'Victor', Lagerstroemia limii (Zhejiang Crape Myrtle), Lagerstroemia speciosa (Giant Crape Myrtle or Pride of India), Lagerstroemia subcostata var. fauriei (Japanese Crape Myrtle), 'Lipan' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Pocomoke' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Ruby Dazzle', 'Tonto' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Yuma' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apalachee' (L. indica x L.subcostata var. fauriei)
first mildew resistant hybrid, 12 ft tall, 8 ft. wide, light lavender flowers, orange to red fall foliage - Bellini® (Series different colors: Grape, Raspberry, Strawberry, Guava)
3 to 4 feet tall and wide, compact, early-blooming shrub, mildew resistant - Berry Dazzle® 'GAMAD VI'
dwarf, fushsia-purple flowers, new leave burgundy red - 'Bicolor'
Miniature, weeping, 3 to 4.5 ft. tall, bicolor flowers of reddish-pink and white, Dixie Series - Cherry Dazzle® 'Gamad I'
Razzle Dazzle series. 3-5 ft. shrub, compact habit, cherry red flowers, red-purple fall foliage, disease resistant - 'Chickasaw' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
Miniature, 1 to 2 ft tall, 1.5 to 2 ft. wide, pinkish-lavender flower, good disease resistance - 'Choctaw' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
3 to 18 ft. tall, upright, spreading, bright pink flowers, bronze to maroon foliage in the fall, mildew resistant - 'Comanche' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
Shrub, 3 to 11 ft. tall, 3 to 12 ft. wide, coral pink flowers, dark orange to dark red-purple fall foliage, mildew resistant - Dazzle® Me Pink 'Gamad V'
Razzle Dazzle series. 3-4 ft., 3-4 ft, wide, dwarf shrub, pink flowersfall foliage. - Early Bird™ Lavender 'JD818'
semi-dwarf, 5 to 6 ft. tall, 3-4 ft. wide, upright to weeping habit, early blooming, lavender flowers, yellow fall foliage - Early Bird™ Purple 'JD827'
Dense, 5- 8 ft. tall, 3 to 4ft. wide, shrub, purple, frilly flowers over a long season, grayish bark, beige inner bark.
Early Bird™ White 'JD900'
- 'Lafayette'
Miniature, weeping shrub, 0.75- 1.5 ft tall and wide, white-lavender flower, bloom late spring to fall (Dixie Series)
Lagerstroemia indica (Common Crape Myrtle)
- Lagerstroemia indica 'Country Red'
8 to 10 ft. tall, 4 to 5 ft. wide, upriht spreading tree, bright red flowers, dull yellow-orange fall foliage - Lagerstroemia indica 'Mardi Gras'
Small, weeping shrub, 2-3 ft. tall and wide, bright purple flowers late spring to fall. - Lagerstroemia indica 'New Orleans'
1 to 3 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide, weeping shrub,. purple flowers summer to fall. - Lagerstroemia indica 'Pixie White'
Miniature, weeping, 1-2 ft. tall and wide, shrub, white flowers summer and fall (Dixie Series). - Lagerstroemia indica 'Victor'
Compact, globular shrub, 3-6 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide, deep red flowers, yellow-red fall foliage
Lagerstroemia limii (Zhejiang Crape Myrtle)
- 'Lipan' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
13 to 20 feet tall, upright small tree, medium lavender flowers, orange-rust colored fall foliage, nearly white bark
'Pocomoke' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
- 'Tonto' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
4 to 11 ft. tall, large globe-shaped shrub, fuchsia flowers, maroon fall foliage, cream to taupe bark, mildew-resistant - 'Yuma' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
12 to 18 ft. tall, 12-15 ft wide, bicolor lavender flowers, yellow-orange fall foliage, light gray bark, mildew-resistant
Early blooming and reblooming from mid-May to fall; shrub, 5 to 8 ft tall, 3 to 4 ft wide, broad-habit, pure white blooms
Tree or shrub, 3 to 15 ft. tall, pale brown to gray bark, elliptical green leaves, panicles of bright flowers
Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, up to 12 ft. tall, dark brown, peeling to redder bark, densely pubescent flower clusters Lagerstroemia speciosa (Giant Crape Myrtle or Pride of India)
Grows 30-60 ft. tall, 30-40 ft. wide, erect, vase-shaped, with large leaves and flower clusters up to 1-2 ft. long Lagerstroemia subcostata var. fauriei (Japanese Crape Myrtle)
Grows 20-30 ft. tall, more cold-hardy, cinnamon bark, light green leaves, 2-4 inch long clusters of white blooms
Miniature, 2-5 ft. tall and wide, upright, spreading, rose-pink flowers mid summer to fall, bronze-red fall foliage. 'Ruby Dazzle'
2 to 5 ft. tall, 3-5 ft. wide, pink flowers, the lowest growing of the crape myrtles - 'Apalachee' (L. indica x L.subcostata var. fauriei)
- 'Apalachee' (L. indica x L.subcostata var. fauriei), Bellini® (Series different colors: Grape, Raspberry, Strawberry, Guava), Berry Dazzle® 'GAMAD VI', 'Bicolor', Cherry Dazzle® 'Gamad I', 'Chickasaw' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Choctaw' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Comanche' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), Dazzle® Me Pink 'Gamad V', Early Bird™ Lavender 'JD818', Early Bird™ Purple 'JD827', Early Bird™ White 'JD900', 'Lafayette', Lagerstroemia indica (Common Crape Myrtle), Lagerstroemia indica 'Country Red', Lagerstroemia indica 'Mardi Gras', Lagerstroemia indica 'New Orleans', Lagerstroemia indica 'Pixie White', Lagerstroemia indica 'Victor', Lagerstroemia limii (Zhejiang Crape Myrtle), Lagerstroemia speciosa (Giant Crape Myrtle or Pride of India), Lagerstroemia subcostata var. fauriei (Japanese Crape Myrtle), 'Lipan' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Pocomoke' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Ruby Dazzle', 'Tonto' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei), 'Yuma' (L. indica x L. subcostata var. fauriei)
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lagerstroemia
- Family:
- Lythraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical and subtropical Asia, India, Northern Australia
- Distribution:
- Eastern United States from Maryland to Florida, west to Texas, Cuba, Puerto Rico
- Wildlife Value:
- Food plant of some moth and butterfly larvae.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a capsule, green and succulent at first, but ripening to dark brown or black. It splits open and releases numerous, small, winged seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Crape myrtles are noted for colorful, long-lasting flowers of a variety of colors except blue, that blossom in spring and summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite or alternate, simple with entire margins. Size will vary with species from 2 to 8 inches.
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Sinewy, fluted stems and branches, mottled due to periodic shedding of the bark.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Weedy
