Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia indica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lay-ger-STROY-mee-a IN-dih-kuh
- Description
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The crepe myrtle is a favorite of many southern gardeners. (Crepe myrtle is the preferred common name in the south). The draw for this plant is that is blooms at a time when most trees are not blooming. If the plant is healthy, it will be covered with blooms that will last for months during the hottest part of the summer.
Crepe myrtles are deciduous, have a rapid growth rate, and are often seen in their multi-stemmed form. They will grow in almost any kind of soil: sand, loam or clay, although it prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sunlight. This plant is easily transplanted and is drought and alkaline tolerant, but it does have pest and disease problems. It is even possible to grow them in containers if they are watered and fertilized properly. They will grow in partial shade, however, the best flowering will occur on plants that receive more than 6 hours of direct sun. This plant blooms from June until fall, and to promote flower bloom, it is best to trim off seed pods. Fall color is not very impressive because the tree is tropical and loses it's leaves early. This plant can be grown as a street tree with ground cover underneath, as an espalier, or as a specimen.
Crepe myrtle breeding and cultivation have produced several different colors of flowers, ranging from white to purple to every shade of red. They can be purchased for small spaces with plants that reach a mature height of 3 to 5 feet, to large shade trees reaching heights of 40 feet, and almost any size in between.
Work has been done in breeding this original crepe myrtle Lagerstroemia indica with a Japanese crepe myrtle Lagerstroemia faurei, which features red, flaky bark and resistance to powdery mildew. Most new varieties that are on the market today are a result of this breeding program.
For more information on the newer varieties, their mature height, flower color, and how to solve some of the more common problems associated with crepe myrtles such as powdery mildew or lack of flowering visit the web site on crepe myrtles put out by Clemson University: http://www.clemson.edu/crapemyrtle/
Quick ID Hints:
- Twigs have decurrent ridges
- Has short petioles
- Leaves are opposite, alternate, or in whorls of 3s
- Flowers are 6-parted, anthocyanin, and have clawed petals
- Flowers with style-like staminodes
- Inflorescence is a terminal panicle
- Fruit is a dehiscent capsule, 6-valved, and brown
- Bark exfoliates, exposing hues of brown to gray
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Catawba'
dark purple, blooms July to fall, mildew resistant, 12 ft. tall - 'Cherokee'
red flowers, 10-12 ft. tall - 'Dallas Red'
very cold hardy, large panicles of deep red flowers, 20 ft. tall - 'Muskogee'
lavender flowers, long bloomer, tan-medium brown bark, mildew resistance, over 20 ft. tall - 'Natchez'
pure white flowers, cinnamon-brown bark, 30 ft. tall - 'Osage'
heavy bloomer, light pink flowers, chestnut brown bark, mildew resistant, 12 ft. tall - 'Peppermint Lace'
deep pink flowers with white edges, candy striped appearance, 20 ft. tall - 'Powhatan'
purple flowers, 14-20 ft. tall - 'Tuscarora'
coral pink flowers, 16 ft. tall
- 'Catawba'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Catawba'
dark purple, blooms July to fall, mildew resistant, 12 ft. tall - 'Cherokee'
red flowers, 10-12 ft. tall - 'Dallas Red'
very cold hardy, large panicles of deep red flowers, 20 ft. tall - 'Muskogee'
lavender flowers, long bloomer, tan-medium brown bark, mildew resistance, over 20 ft. tall - 'Natchez'
pure white flowers, cinnamon-brown bark, 30 ft. tall - 'Osage'
heavy bloomer, light pink flowers, chestnut brown bark, mildew resistant, 12 ft. tall - 'Peppermint Lace'
deep pink flowers with white edges, candy striped appearance, 20 ft. tall - 'Powhatan'
purple flowers, 14-20 ft. tall - 'Tuscarora'
coral pink flowers, 16 ft. tall
- 'Catawba'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lagerstroemia
- Species:
- indica
- Family:
- Lythraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Himalaya to S. China and Indo-China, Philippines
- Distribution:
- Eastern US
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This tree is resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- 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
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- This plant produces 6-valved dehiscent capsules that are brown and 1/2" wide. They persist through winter, and the disc-shaped seeds are 3/8" in diameter and winged.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are numerous, irregular, and 1"-1 1/2" wide. They are antocyanin-pigmented. They commonly have 6 petals, are clawed, and cristate. There are 6 staminodes, similar to style. They grow on a terminal panicle on current year's growth and can be white, pink, red, and purple from July to fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 1"-2 3/4" long and 3/4"-1 1/2" wide. They are alternate to sub-opposite or in whorls of 3. They are simple, oblong to elliptic to obovate, acute to obtuse, broad cuneate, and entire. The decurrent petiole is very short and leaves have tiny conicle, deciduous stipules. Leaves are yellow, orange, or red in the fall. White-flowered trees produce yellow fall color
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Peeling
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- They range from having smooth to exfoliating bark. However, most new varieties have red, flaky bark. Exfoliating bark exposes hues of brown to gray and have a smooth inner bark. Juvenile branches have decurrent ridges and appear angled.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are slender, often almost squarish, with prominent wings. Older stems are smooth and exfoliating.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
