Pocomoke crape myrtle

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Water

Water regularly during establishment; once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells. Containers need more frequent checking.

Soil

Well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral; tolerates clay if drainage is good. Avoid persistently wet ground.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Deep pink, crinkled flowers in clusters from midsummer into early autumn, depending on summer warmth.

Foliage

Small, oval, dark green leaves, often turning bronze to reddish in autumn.

Growth

Slow

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

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 8 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

• Plant in a sunny, sheltered position after severe frost risk has passed in colder regions.
• Water deeply through the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings.
• Apply a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) mulch layer, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; excess nitrogen encourages leaves rather than flowers.
• Use a container with drainage holes and protect its root ball from prolonged freezing in cold climates.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, damaged or crossing stems and lightly shape only if needed; flowers form on new growth. Where winter injury is possible, wait until buds begin swelling before deciding which stems are dead, and avoid routine hard cutting.

Late winter

In mild climates, remove dead or crossing stems and lightly tidy the outline.

Spring

In colder climates, check for live buds before removing winter-damaged wood; refresh mulch.

Late spring

Plant once severe frosts have passed, and begin regular watering while roots establish.

Summer

Water during extended dry weather and inspect stems and leaves for aphids or bark scale.

Autumn

Avoid heavy pruning or feeding that could encourage tender late growth.

Winter

Protect container roots from prolonged freezing and keep drainage holes clear.

• Edge a sunny border with low flowering mounds that do not obscure taller plants.
• Use in patio containers where its summer flowers can be seen close up.
• Plant in small groups beside ornamental grasses for contrasting leaf texture.
• Place at the front of a warm foundation bed with lavender or salvias, leaving room for its mature spread.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, Modern courtyard, Small-space, Traditional, Low-maintenance and Pollinator garden.

Plant it with: Lavender, Catmint, Perennial salvia, Threadleaf coreopsis, Little bluestem and Stonecrop.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen for bees and other visiting insects. The dense, low branches offer some shelter for small garden animals.

• Poor flowering: shade, cool summers or excess nitrogen can reduce bloom; choose the warmest sunny site available and avoid heavy feeding.
• Powdery mildew: Pocomoke has good resistance but is not immune; improve airflow, avoid crowding and grow in full sun.
• Aphids and sticky honeydew: wash small colonies off with water and preserve ladybirds and other predators; use insecticidal soap if necessary.
• Crape myrtle bark scale, especially in affected parts of the United States: look for white felted spots on stems and black sooty mould; confirm identification and seek local advice on correctly timed treatment.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is generally recognised as poisonous. It is an ornamental plant, not a food plant.

• Dwarf Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica)

  Pink-flowered dwarf forms have flat-topped flower clusters and toothed leaves; Pocomoke has crinkled petals in looser clusters and smooth-edged leaves.

• Dwarf common myrtle (Myrtus communis 'Tarentina')

  It is evergreen, with aromatic leaves and individual white flowers with prominent stamens; Pocomoke is deciduous and bears pink flower clusters.

Lagerstroemia honours Magnus von Lagerström, an eighteenth-century Swedish merchant who supported natural-history collecting.

Propagation. Root softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer under humid conditions in a free-draining medium. Seedlings will not reliably retain Pocomoke's dwarf habit or other cultivar traits.

Accepted botanical name

Lagerstroemia

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