Crape myrtle

Sun

Full sun; give it at least 6 hours of direct sun daily and a warm, sheltered position in cooler climates.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established plants tolerate dry spells, but prolonged drought can reduce flowering.

Soil

Well-drained soil, from sandy loam to clay, provided it does not remain waterlogged; mildly acidic to neutral soil is ideal.

Height

15-25 ft (4.5-7.6 m); dwarf cultivars are much smaller

Spread

10-20 ft (3-6 m)

Flowers

Summer into early autumn; clusters of crinkled pink, rose, red, purple or white flowers, depending on the selection.

Foliage

Small, oval green leaves, often bronze when young, turning yellow, orange or red in autumn; colour varies with climate and selection.

Growth

Moderate to fast in warm climates with adequate water.

Care needed

Medium

• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Apply a modest amount of balanced fertiliser in spring only if growth is weak; excess nitrogen encourages leaves rather than flowers.
• Choose a planting position with good air circulation, away from lawn sprinklers that repeatedly wet the foliage.
• In colder locations, plant in spring and shelter young plants from cold, drying winds.

Pruning. Prune in late winter or early spring before growth starts, removing dead wood, crossing branches and unwanted basal shoots. Keep its natural framework rather than cutting back major limbs to stubs; flowers form on the current season's growth.

Late winter

Check the branch framework and lightly prune before new growth begins; in cold areas, wait until severe frosts have passed.

Spring

Plant in colder regions, refresh mulch and feed lightly only where needed.

Late spring

Check new shoots for aphids and powdery mildew; remember that leaf emergence is naturally late.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry spells and inspect trunks and branches for scale insects.

Early autumn

Avoid nitrogen feeding and hard pruning so new growth has time to mature before winter.

Late autumn

Remove badly diseased fallen leaves and check that mulch is not piled against the trunk.

• Use a multi-stemmed specimen beside a terrace where its peeling bark can be seen throughout winter.
• Plant as a small lawn or courtyard tree, allowing enough room for its mature crown.
• Combine with ornamental grasses and sun-loving perennials for late-summer flowers and autumn colour.
• Repeat along a broad path or driveway to create a seasonal rhythm of flowers and sculptural trunks.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, Modern courtyard, Mediterranean, Traditional, Autumn colour and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Catmint, Salvia, Coneflower, Switchgrass, Lilyturf and Lavender.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen for bees and other insects, though little or no nectar. Branches offer cover and occasional nesting sites for small birds.

• Powdery mildew causes a white coating on leaves and buds: improve air circulation, avoid excess nitrogen and choose a mildew-resistant selection when replacing affected plants.
• Aphids produce sticky honeydew and black sooty mould: wash small infestations off with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.
• Crape myrtle bark scale produces white felted patches and heavy sooty mould, particularly in parts of the United States: confirm identification with a local extension service and use locally recommended scale treatments.
• Poor flowering or winter dieback: provide full sun and summer warmth, avoid heavy feeding and check that the plant is suitable for your winter temperatures.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard. It is not grown as a food plant.

• Japanese crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia fauriei)

  Usually a larger tree with white flowers and conspicuous cinnamon-coloured peeling bark. Many garden crape myrtles are hybrids of this species and L. indica, so identification from appearance alone can be difficult.

• Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

  Has larger, heart-shaped leaves and fragrant spring flower clusters; crape myrtle has smaller oval leaves, crinkled summer flowers and peeling bark.

Crape myrtle refers to the crepe-like petals and myrtle-like leaves; Lagerstroemia honours Swedish merchant Magnus von Lagerström, while indica means 'of India'.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or hardwood cuttings during dormancy. Seed can be sown in spring, but seedlings will not reliably match a named cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Lagerstroemia indica

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin and Puerto Rico.

Native range

Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Measured

Soil pH 5 to 7.5. Average height 670 cm.

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