With long lasting color, easy care, and lovely forms, you couldn't ask for more from one plant. It's no wonder that Southern gardeners have embraced the crepe myrtle.
Though most southern gardeners could not imagine their gardens without crepe myrtles, they are actually a native of southeast Asia. Fans of Lagerstroemia indica love them for their colorful and long-lasting blooms, gracefully arching branches and a curling bark that sheds throughout the year. The bonus is that all this beauty comes with very little effort. Crepe myrtles are a low maintenance, tolerant plant, well suited for our region’s hot summers.
Crepe myrtles find a new home in the South
Originally brought from Asia to England in 1759, the crepe myrtles did not find a permanent home since they refused to bloom. Then in 1790, French botanist, André Michaux, brought crepe myrtles to Charleston, South Carolina, and everything changed. He first grew these plants in his garden and eventually distributed them across the city. Because they did so well in the warm climate, they eventually spread throughout the region and began heralding summer in the South.
You say crepe, I say crape. Who’s right?
Depends on who you ask. Though the scientific name is lagerstroemia crape myrtle, the traditional Southern spelling is crepe myrtle, since the delicate flowers are thought to resemble crepe paper. You may also occasionally find it as, crapemyrtle or crepemyrtle.
Why we love them: Year ‘round visual appeal
Crepe myrtles are a popular choice in southern landscaping because of their long-term profusion of color. Depending on the species, they begin blooming in late spring/early summer and can last until the first frost.
Blooms grow in long clusters, called panicles, that can be anyw
here from 6 to 18 inches long. Colors vary from white to pink and deep red as well as lilacs and deep purples.
The color doesn’t end there. Crepe myrtles will give you one last burst of color in the fall as the leaves turn to vivid oranges and deep reds. Rich, dark brown seed pods will also emerge, providing food for birds and an interesting texture visually. Speaking of interesting textures, the unique peeling bark on mature wood, especially the trunk, adds additional beauty, with colors ranging from silver grey to warm cinnamon brown.
Why we love them: Suited to a variety of landscaping needs
Left untouched, crepe myrtles typically grow into large, multi-stemmed shrubs. But with thoughtful pruning, they can be crafted into beautiful cone shaped trees, growing anywhere from 10 to 30 feet tall. You’ll see them in tidy lines along streets and driveways, providing dense privacy hedges along property lines and creating spectacular curb appeal in front of homes. Cultivation has produced newer varieties that can even be grown in containers on porches or decks.
Why we love them: Easy care
The crepe myrtle is perfect for our region, which is why they’ve become so popular. They do well in Hardiness Zones 7–10 (most of our region is in Zone 7), which means they will do just fine through our winters.
It’s not a finicky plant either. This quick grower (12 to 18 inches per year) does well in a variety of soils and is drought tolerant, so it will be a strong addition to your yard. And while they enjoy full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight), they can do well in partial sun. Just know that less sun will mean fewer blooms.
Pruning: Encouraging a natural form and avoiding “crepe murder”
The flowers of the crepe myrtle bloom on new wood, so any pruning should be done in late winter (February is ideal) while the shrub is still dormant and well before any buds appear. The goal is to highlight the natural cone or vase shape and produce a plant with strong branches by removing sucker branches, crossing branches, and branches growing toward the center of the plant. To highlight the graceful trunk and its peeling bark, gradually remove any lower branches on the trunk, up to a height of five feet. Pruning spent flower panicles will also extend the blooming period by promoting a lighter second bloom.
What you DON’T want to do is lop all the branches off to a stump, in what some gardeners refer to as “crepe murder.” Doing so ruins the plant’s natural form and encourages thin, weak branches to grow, which will not hold up the flowers well. If your plant is too tall for the space, you should consider transplanting it to another area. But if you must reduce the height, you can shorten the topmost branches by two or three feet, making sure you cut back to a side branch or trunk.
National Arboretum Hybrids: hardier and healthier
Back in 1962, the National Arboretum in Washington, DC, began developing hybrid crepe myrtles that improved their cold hardiness and resistance to powdery mildew, as well as creating new colors, heights and forms. The resulting 24 new varieties are named after tribes of Native Americans, so they are easy to recognize by their names. The plants are anywhere between 4 and 20 feet in height, depending on which variety you choose, so they make ideal shrubs for the background in your garden or for specimens in the lawn. Here are the best of the best:
• Catawba — Released in 1967, this is one of the older of the hybrids. At a height of eight to ten feet, this variety is perfect for smaller spaces. Beautiful purple blossoms give way to orange and red leaves with silver-gray bark in the fall.
• Arapaho — First released in 2003, this is one of the newer varieties. It is a striking tree due to its height — around 20 feet — and its true red flowers, not just a dark pink. This combination makes it a great choice as a specimen tree, providing a focal point in your landscaping without overpowering your home.
• Natchez — Elegant white blooms on a large 20-foot tree will definitely make a statement in your yard. In the fall, you will enjoy orange and red leaves with a striking cinnamon-brown bark.
• Tonto — If you need a smaller tree, this might be the best choice at only four to six feet tall. Soft pink flowers give way to maroon leaves and light gray bark in the fall.
Razzle Dazzle Hybrids: dwarf breeds for even smaller spaces
These newer hybrids first became available in the early 2000s. At just three to five feet tall, these small shrubs are perfect for smaller gardens or even containers. Though small, they still have all of the color of their larger relatives.
• Berry Dazzle — This is the smallest of the group, at three feet tall, and the most suitable for containers. It features rich pink blooms.
• Strawberry Dazzle — A little larger, at four to five feet tall, this variety spreads rather than growing mounded. With delicate pink-red blossoms, it will create a stunning garden border.
• Cherry Dazzle — As the name suggests, bright red flowers adorn this shrub. Its size and growing tendency depend on how you plant it. In a garden, it will grow to about five feet and spread about the same. In containers, it grows much more compact and stays about three feet in height.
With beautiful, long lasting color, easy care, and many forms from which to choose, you couldn’t ask for more from one plant. It’s no wonder that southern gardeners have embraced the crepe myrtle. You’ll appreciate why it’s become a familiar feature enhancing the landscaping of many southern homes.