Acoma crape myrtle

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours daily; choose a warm, sheltered position in cooler climates.

Water

Water regularly during establishment; once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells. Avoid persistently wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained loam, clay or sandy soil; tolerates a range of soil pH levels but dislikes waterlogging.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Flowers

White flowers in loose clusters from midsummer into early autumn, depending on summer warmth.

Foliage

Small, oval green leaves turn orange, red or purple in autumn before falling.

Growth

Moderate; slower in cool climates.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Disease resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.6 ft (0.79 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.4 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (2 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply through the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; excess nitrogen encourages leaves at the expense of flowers.
• Allow enough room for the spreading crown rather than keeping it small by repeated cutting.
• In colder gardens, plant away from exposed winds and protect the root area with mulch; stems may die back near the cold end of its range.

Pruning. Prune in late winter or early spring, removing dead, crossing or badly placed branches and unwanted basal shoots. Retain the natural arching framework and avoid topping or cutting every branch back to thick stubs.

Late winter

Remove dead or crossing branches and unwanted basal shoots before growth resumes.

Spring

Plant once severe frost has passed; refresh mulch and feed lightly only if needed.

Early summer

Water young plants during dry weather and check new growth for aphids.

Midsummer

Enjoy the white flowers; check stems for scale insects and leaves for sticky honeydew.

Autumn

Keep watering newly planted specimens during dry spells, but avoid late nitrogen feeding.

Late autumn

Renew root-zone mulch in colder gardens, keeping it away from the trunks.

• Use as a small multi-stemmed specimen beside a patio, allowing space for its spreading branches.
• Place toward the back of a sunny mixed border with blue-flowered perennials and ornamental grasses.
• Use the white flowers as a summer focal point in a white garden or evening seating area.
• Plant in a sunny courtyard where the branching structure and peeling bark remain visible in winter.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, White garden, Moon garden, Modern courtyard, Traditional and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Catmint, Salvia, Lavender, Gaura, Lamb's ears and Switchgrass.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen for bees and other visiting insects. The branching crown offers shelter and occasional nesting sites for small birds.

• Aphids can cause curled leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould: wash off small colonies with water and preserve ladybirds and other predators.
• Crape myrtle bark scale, particularly in affected parts of the United States, appears as white felted patches on stems: confirm the pest locally and use a locally recommended scale treatment timed to its vulnerable crawler stage.
• Powdery mildew can occur despite this cultivar's good resistance: provide full sun and airflow, avoid excessive nitrogen and remove badly affected shoots.
• Poor flowering commonly follows cool summers, shade or excessive feeding: move young plants to a hotter, sunnier site if necessary and reduce nitrogen fertiliser.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard, although it is an ornamental plant rather than a food plant.

• Natchez crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Natchez')

  Also has white flowers and peeling bark, but develops into a much taller tree with more strongly coloured cinnamon-brown bark.

• Kiowa crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Kiowa')

  Another white-flowered selection, but it grows substantially taller and has conspicuously mottled, cinnamon-coloured bark; check the nursery label on young plants.

Lagerstroemia honours Magnus von Lagerström, a Swedish merchant and plant enthusiast who supplied natural-history specimens to Linnaeus.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer and root them in a free-draining medium with gentle humidity. Seedlings will not reliably retain the characteristics of 'Acoma'.

Accepted botanical name

Lagerstroemia

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.