SERIES 19 | Episode 08A favourite and spectacular tree is the Lagerstroemia indica, or crepe myrtle. I planted one in my backyard about 12 years ago and it's absolutely amazing. I chose it because of its versatility. It flowers from early January through until the end of March, has beautiful spring growth, autumn foliage and a spectacular trunk, with patterned bark. Show
The Lagerstroemia indica species of crepe myrtle are probably the most widely available in Australia and flower in a range of colours - white, red, pink and deep mauve. The crepe myrtle flowers are wonderful - each petal is really like crepe paper, very wrinkly and crinkly, and that's where it gets its name. Remember that crepe myrtles can be grown as a standard, a miniature, a low-growing spreading plant, a small shrub, a small tree and even a large tree. Some to look out for are:
All crepe myrtles grow well in Australia. They especially like a hot and dry climate. They transplant well from a pot or buy them as a bare-rooted plant in winter. Get them established with plenty of water, to ensure the root system develops well. Once established, crepe myrtles are remarkably drought-tolerant. And pruning a crepe myrtle is really simple. Wait until the flowers have finished and then cut it back at least 30 centimetres. I like pruning quite hard because in spring the branch will shoot out with new growth. But if you don't want to prune, then just let the plant grow to its natural shape. Propagate crepe myrtles from hardwood cuttings taken in winter. Crepe myrtles create interest all year and are adaptable to many sized gardens. All varieties provide striking colour in summer, wonderful autumn foliage and in winter have beautiful, ornate bark.  What is Crepe Myrtle?Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a deciduous, vase-shaped tree. They are part of the Lythraceae family and are native to eastern Asia. There are many different types of hybrids which range in sizes and, foliage and flower colours. Crepe Myrtle are deciduous upright trees that usually have dark green foliage which appears at the start of Spring. Other foliage colours can be mid to light green or bronze green. Most varieties have foliage that changes colour during Autumn, with the leaves turning yellow, orange or red (depending on the variety) before falling. Clusters of flowers appear during late Summer which come in a range of colours which include white, pink, red, mauve or purple. The petals are ruffled, with a crepe or paper like texture. Another feature of Crepe Myrtles is their outstanding smooth mottled trunk. They require a full sun position in the garden that has well drained soils. There is an Australian native Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia archeriana), which grows to around 7m tall and has pinkish mauve flowers. Another interesting variety of Crepe Myrtle is the Diamonds in the Dark series. The foliage is dark burgundy and come in a range of colour flowers such as white, red, pink and purple. This tree/shrub is more compact than the other varieties and are best suited to a full sun position in the garden. Benefits of Growing Crepe MyrtleCrepe Myrtles are a great small tree for smaller gardens. They come in a range of colours and sizes. They make an excellent specimen tree which can be grown both in the garden or in a large pot. They can be grown as a hedge to line your front yard or used as a border, along a fence line or as a street plant. Crepe Myrtles are bee and bird attracting. How to Grow Crepe MyrtleCrepe Myrtle Pink Climatic ZonesCool to mild tropical. Plant SizeSizes vary. Crepe Myrtles come in dwarf, medium and tall varieties. Dwarf Height: 60-75cm, Width: 70cm-1.2m Medium Height: 3-5m, Width: 3-5m Tall Height: 8m, Width: 5m Diamonds In The Dark Height: 2-3m, Width: 1.5-2.5m When To Plant Crepe MyrtlePlant anytime. Soil PreparationCrepe Myrtles prefer a free draining soil but will tolerate a wide range of soils. How To Plant Crepe MyrtlePlant in full sun, with the plant crown at soil level. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Crepe Myrtle Plant CareWater in well and keep soil moist until tree is established. Keep well watered through Summer. Mulch to prevent weeds or grass growing under the tree, and to retain moisture in the soil. Fertilise when new growth appears with a slow release fertiliser in Spring. Prune tree when planting to encourage new growth. Prune to maintain shape. Crepe myrtles can be heavily pruned in Winter to encourage the development of long, arching branches of flowers. However, the downside of this annual pruning is that it creates an ugly, butchered looking plant. Left unpruned, crepe myrtles develop a naturally appealing shape and will flower well regardless. While growing remove low growth to develop a smooth, attractive trunk. Powdery mildew is one of the main problems however most of the new hybrids are more resistant. If your plant has powdery mildew one possible way of fixing the problem could be to move the plant into a full sun position first or remove effected branch if possible. Recommended Crepe Myrtle VarietiesDiamonds In The Dark Blush Crepe Myrtle Infinitini Orchid Crepe Myrtle Enduring Summer Red What is the most beautiful crepe myrtle?Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Natchez is recognized as the top performing crape myrtle in the southeastern United States. It was introduced by the U. S. National Arboretum in 1987. White flowers and exfoliating bark are characteristic of this cultivar, which reaches heights of 30 feet at maturity.
Which crape myrtle is the smallest?Dwarf varieties only grow to a height of 4 feet or less. Semi-Dwarf varieties grow 4 to 8 feet tall. Large or Tree Crapemyrtle reaches a height of 10 to 20 feet.
Can you get dwarf crepe myrtle?Plant Size
Crepe Myrtles come in dwarf, medium and tall varieties.
What is the difference between a crepe myrtle bush and a crepe myrtle tree?The difference between the crape myrtle bush and the crape myrtle tree is that the tree is taller than crape myrtle bush. Crape myrtle bushes have multiple stems and their height is between 2 and 15 ft. (0.6 – 4.5 m). Crape myrtle trees can be as much as 20 ft.
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Best crepe myrtle for small garden
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