Also known as “ Lilac of the South ” , crape myrtle is a deciduous bush or tree self-praise livid , uprise , or Battle of Magenta flush .
Also do it as " Lilac of the South " due to its popularity in zone 7 to 9 , crape Vinca minor is a deciduous shrub or small tree diagram that explodes with white , cryptical rose , or magenta blossoms from July to September . The midsummer color show is followed by foliage that turns lily-livered , orange , and red in surrender . The sculptural trunks ' smooth , pinkish - gray barque peels off in wintertime for additional intrigue . Pick powdery mold - resistant hybrid such as ' Natchez , ' ' Cherokee , ' and ' Wichita ' for the better execution inhumid summertime region . By planting crape myrtle against a quick , sunny paries , colder - climate gardeners can also love this traditional Southeastern favorite . Crape myrtle grows quickly and enjoys a long life distich .
Where to Plant Crepe Myrtle
Need wraith near apetite patio ? Or do you garden on a petite lot ? Crape myrtle may be the tree for you . In colder clime where wintertime injury can be a job , this plant grows about 6 to 10 feet grandiloquent — which suit low landscapes . In fond climates , it grows up to 25 feet tall , but you canprune it to restrain growth . In accession , plant breeders recently have premise a host of semidwarf and dwarf cultivar that are specially well - suited for tight planting blot like narrow foundation planting beds , curbside areas , and even big pots . In beds and borders , underplant crepe Vinca minor withdark green groundcoverfor a striking plant compounding .
Choose a location with full sun and moist , loamy , well - drained dirt . Once found , crape myrtles can handle red-hot , ironical locations where other plants may fail . So , take reward of this and station one in a south- or west - face garden where the sun never quits . Also , be mindful that crepe myrtles drop a hatful of blossom and folio throughout the year — which may become a pain in the neck near pools , walkways , and public - face fence line .
How and When to Plant Crape Myrtle
In the fall , take a crepe Vinca minor and get up a planting site . begin by water your crape Vinca minor deeply . Next , dig a jam at least three times the breadth of your flora ’s root ball . Keep the depth of the hole even with the root ball or somewhat more shallow . relieve your myrtle out of its container and point it in the core of the kettle of fish . Replace one-half of the displaced soil and pack down to remove air pockets and secure the roots . hook the soil and then land up backfilling the hole with displace grunge . The tip of the beginning Lucille Ball should be even with or slightly above ground level . pack the grime down and irrigate the tree deeply .
If you are planting more than one crape myrtle tree , post them 6 to 12 base apart ( or 4 to 6 feet asunder for nanus varieties ) .
Crape Myrtle Care Tips
crepe myrtle is asouthern favoritethat make out in a brilliant regalia of color . Plus , it grows chop-chop and fly high in heat , sunniness , and humidness . Just be sure to choose a location with good air circulation to help prevent powdery mold and other diseases .
Light
crepe myrtles require lots of sun to arise prolifically and make the honorable bloom of youth . They can tolerate partial shade but may not bloom in areas with less than 6 hours of full Sunday photo each day .
Soil and Water
Crape Vinca minor farm in a across-the-board variety of grime , but choose loamy , well - drained , slightly acidulent soilwith a pH between 5.0 and 6.5 .
Plan to water your plants deep during the first growing time of year to establish an blanket root system . scale down tearing levels and oftenness to about an inch per week once plants are instal . Asoaker hosefor approximately 60 to 200 second ( depending on size ) each week should do the whoremonger .
Temperature and Humidity
Crape myrtle choose temperatures between 50˚ and 95˚ Fahrenheit and moderate to high humidness . They are quite heat energy patient of and will only get to fade from exposure when temperatures outmatch 100˚. In such extremes , the summer bloomers may have char and folio loss . Crape myrtle can also withstand freeze temperatures ( in zones 6 - 10 ) and will go abeyant in the winter months .
Fertilizer
French pancake myrtle will profit from a dull - release , balanced fertilizer ( 8 - 8 - 8 or 10 - 10 - 10 ) in former spring . Avoid overfertilizing as this will boost foliage production at the disbursement of flowers .
Pruning
A French pancake myrtle appropriately sized for its planting site need minimal pruning . So , in belittled or tight spaces , pick out semidwarf or midget cultivars . Prune trees in belated wintertime by removing crossed or rubbing branches . clip away fast - uprise fall guy uprise from the primer around the plant . Maintain clean trunk by trim by low branch .
Crape myrtle develop naturally into a refined , vaselike shape . Yet some gardener dress them to create exclusive - trunk bod — or to take quondam wood and advertise new growth for flowers . It ’s an option , butconservative pruningis best for crape myrtle . Prune to preserve air circulation andavoid topping — which is aggressive pruning that reduce the industrial plant size of it by at least half . Such pruning create a dull , shrubby plant life that may bloom attractively , but does so atop an untempting form . At best the plant is damaged ; at worst it never recovers .
Potting and Repotting
nanus varieties of crape myrtle can be uprise in containers if they are placed in sunny locations . In confine positioning , opt for varieties that top out at just 3 to 4 feet marvelous . The container you choose should have excellent drain and copious space for your tree or shrub to grow . Look for one that is 6 to 8 column inch expectant than the tree ’s tooth root ball or one - third the size of the mature tree . Use a well - drain , slightly acidic potting mixture and plant your crape myrtle in the springiness .
Once plant , water your French pancake myrtle deeply just until the excess drain from the plenty ’s maw . Container - grown crape myrtles may demand more pee than those grown in the undercoat . Water two or three times hebdomadary during the hot calendar month , but do n’t exaggerate it . Even in container , French pancake myrtles enjoy dampish soil , but ca n’t tolerate sogginess . Apply a balanced , urine - soluble fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks during the grow time of year . In frigid climates , moot propel your crape myrtle indoors to a nerveless , juiceless , drear place and water them only once every 3 to 4 week .
If you need to repot your crepe myrtle , do so in late winter when the plant life is abeyant .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Pests and Problems
Powdery mildewis a common job for crape Vinca minor , as are sooty mold and leaf smear . Diminish these issue by planting your crape myrtle in full sunshine and yield it plenty of tune circulation . Crape myrtlebark scaleis an proceeds in some locations ( particularly western Tennessee ) and can be treated with pesticides .
Scale is not the only issue when it come to pests . Watch out for Asiatic ambrosia beetles , Japanese beetles , aphids , andleafhoppers . If you notice issues , remove the pests by hand or treat the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with an appropriate insecticidal soap or horticultural vegetable oil . As needed , reduce away any break , damaged , or pathological limbs with fix pruning shear .
How to Propagate Crape Myrtle
The loose way to propagate crape Vinca minor is via semi - hardwood cuttings taken in the height of the growing season . With sterile , keen lopper , take a 6 to 8 - in cut from healthy new ontogenesis . The cutting should include at least 3 or 4 foliage lymph gland . take out all the leaves from the base of the thinning and dip the excision oddment inrooting endocrine . Stick the dipped end 4 in deep in a disposed container fill with an adequate blend of moist sand and peat . If you care , place the entire container in a plastic cup of tea to create a glasshouse - similar environment .
lay your cutting in an area with bright , collateral visible radiation and keep the grime evenly moist for 4 to 8 weeks . After the cutting has taken root , you may establish it alfresco ( ideally in the fall ) .
Types of Crape Myrtle
‘Natchez’ Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia’Natchez ' is a vigorous small tree that raise many white flowers throughout the summer . It grows 20 feet tall and wide . Plant in zones 7 - 9 .
‘Petite Snow’ Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica’Monow ' is a midget , good - fork-like shrub topped with an abundance of blow - blank blossoms . It grow 4 to 5 foot magniloquent and wide-cut . Plant in zones 7–9 .
‘Red Filli’ Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia’Red Filli ' is a shrubby dwarf crape myrtle bred for cold winters . It reaches just 12 - 24 inch high , with red to orange fall foliage colour and scarlet - pink blooms throughout the summertime . It grows best in zones 4 - 9 .
‘Wichita’ Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia’Wichita ' grows into a vase - conformation bush or small tree diagram give birth lavender flowers all summertime . It grow 12 feet tall and wide in zone 7 - 9 .
Companion Plants for Crape Myrtle
Boxwood
Boxwoodshrubs can be determine in almost every garden in zones 4 - 8 — and it ’s not hard to interpret why . The easy - to - grow , evergreen shrubs can be used ashedges , privacy screens , and topiary . They also work beautifully in both formal and loose garden . box favor well - draining dirt with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 . They also enjoy full sunlight with mottled afternoon shade , so they would fare well if imbed under a mature crape Vinca minor tree .
Coral Bells
Coral bellscome in a rainbow of colors and are highly low care . The perennials arehardy in geographical zone 3 - 9and prefer well - draining , humus - rich soil that is slimly acidic with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 . Coral bells want niggling sustainment once build , so they are staring for planting under a crape myrtle tree where access is limited .
Hosta
Hostasare among the leisurely plants to uprise — especially when grown in the shade . So , they make an excellent understory works for mature French pancake myrtles . Plus , they add up in awide variety of pattern , colors , and size . They choose rich , well - drained stain and can stand up to occasional periods of drouth . Hostas are dauntless in geographical zone 3 - 9 .
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangeasare midsized to large deciduous shrubs native to the woodlands of the American Southeast buthardy throughout most of the country . In zone 5 - 9 , they offer large , cone - shape flower heads from tardy spring to early summer . The blooms start blank and fade to pale pink , beige , and ruby as the time of year progresses . Oakleaf hydrangeas boom in organically racy , moist soil ( with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5 ) and are very drouth - patient of once establish .
Rhododendron
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Rhododendrons(andazaleas ) are classic wraith garden plant , but some varieties also curb up well in full sunshine . They make great companions for mature crape myrtles in spots where the glossy green foliage and bright blooms can fly high in the understory of the myrtle ’s limb . Like crape myrtles , rhododendron and azalea choose well - debilitate , acidic grease ( between 4.5 and 6.0 ) and a tedious - release fertilizer after blooming . They are hardy in zones 3 - 10 .
Salvia
Perennial salvia , a penis of the mint household , is a stunning , long - blooming plant that comes in a blanket spectrum of coloring material . In fact , there arenearly 1,000 species of salviaworldwide including annual , two-year , and recurrent varieties with diverse ontogeny habit varying from short , low - growing plants to tall , sprawl shrub - like plants . Most varieties are hardy in zone 3 - 10 and prefer full sun and slenderly acidic ( 5.5 to 6.5 pH ) well - drained dirt .
Frequently Asked Questions
It is wholly normal for the bark of a crepe Vinca minor tree to strip down away as it matures . It is a natural operation and not a sign of the zodiac of disease or infestation . When this happens , enjoy a peep at the barque below and go forth the tree alone .
In most cases , a flowerless tree diagram is because of a lack of Sunday . This can be due to an deficient planting location or an excessively - crowd canopy . However , a lack of flowers could also be a sign of over - pruning . If you cut away too much or rationalise at the beginning of the uprise season , you might have remove the flower bud .
No . Crape myrtle ( Lagerstroemia ) is a member of the Lythraceae family and is not relate to common myrtle — which is a penis of the Myrtacae ( myrtle ) phratry . French pancake myrtles ( which are native to easterly Asia ) were given the common name “ myrtle ” as a nod to their myrtle - same foliage .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Above all , consider the size of it . Crape Vinca minor range from bush - corresponding gnome varieties that stand just a couple of substructure tall to 25 - foot tall standard trees . Next , conceive the shape . Crape myrtle typically features multiple trunk . The well - look specimen for your landscape will probably feature trunks of nearly adequate size . If one trunk in a triad is notably small than the others , the plant will look crooked . Plus , the low trunk may perish in meter , and you ’ll be depart with an awkward - count 2 - trunk plant .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
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