Description
Crape myrtle is an upright deciduous tree or large shrub.
The crape myrtle is an outstanding ornamental that rewards with a long blooming season of showy flowers and a winter season of dramatic architectural beauty highlighted by distinctive exfoliating bark.The trees have wonderful smooth young bark in attractive patterns, revealed each summer after the old bark has peeled off.
They have a beautiful open vase-like shape if not pruned, which forms an attractive framework in winter.Plant Specifications
| Common Name | Crape myrtles |
| Maximum Reachable Height | 15 ft. to 30 ft. |
| Flower Colour | White, pink, red, or purple. |
| Bloom Time | Fall, Summer |
| Difficulty Level | Easy. |
Planting and care
If the plant leaves are looking pale it may be due to the lack of light but will quickly begin to turn green or reddish-green once exposed to the sun. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring in order to encourage new growth.
Lagerstroemia Indica care
Ideally, crape myrtles should be planted in spring so they have plenty of time to get established before the winter but in warmer areas this is not essential.At the time of planting, plenty of compost and bone or blood meal should be incorporated into the soil to give the plant a good start, and afterwards the area around the plant should receive a good layer of leaf mulch or wood chips to preserve moisture and to prevent extreme fluctuations in soil temperature.
| Sunlight | Full Sun Only |
| Watering | Regular |
| Soil | Moderately fertile, well-drained soil. |
| Temperature | Hardy, though not heat tolerant of western exposures or temperatures above 115oF. |
| Fertilizer | Crape myrtles benefit from annual feeding with a general-purpose or high-nitrogen fertilizer, in early spring as soon as you see leaves. If you want to fertilize twice, do the second application about two months later. |
Lagerstroemia Indica uses
Ornamental Use:
- Flowering Tree, Hedge, Screening, Specimen Plant/Focal PointIt can look wonderful as a large solitary shrub or tree surrounded by lawn or groundcovers