Summer's loudest statement. The tree that blooms when nothing else does. Lagerstroemia indica, the Crape Myrtle, is the most spectacular summer-flowering tree available to growers in the American South and increasingly across the mid-Atlantic and lower Midwest, producing enormous clusters of crinkled pink, lavender, red, or white flowers through the hottest months of summer when most other flowering trees are finished for the year. It also delivers polished cinnamon-tan exfoliating bark that rivals River Birch for year-round ornamental value and brilliant fall color in shades of orange, red, and burgundy. Drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and long-blooming, the Crape Myrtle is the defining ornamental tree of the southern landscape. If you are looking to buy Crape Myrtle seeds or grow pink crape myrtle from seed, seed-grown trees produce their own range of flower colors and forms that clonally propagated nursery trees cannot match for variety. Massive flower clusters blooming continuously through summer and into fall, the longest-blooming flowering tree available in warm climates Exfoliating cinnamon-tan bark providing year-round ornamental interest comparable to the best ornamental barks Brilliant orange, red, and burgundy fall color from a tree primarily known for summer flowers Extremely drought-tolerant and heat-loving, thriving in conditions that stress most flowering trees Seed-grown trees produce natural variation in flower color from soft pink through magenta and lavender Things you probably did not know about the Crape Myrtle It is not native to North America and has naturalized across the South. Crape Myrtle is native to China, Korea, and Southeast Asia and was introduced to American gardens in the late 18th century. Andre Michaux, the French botanist who traveled extensively in North America, introduced it to Charleston, South Carolina around 1786. It has been so widely planted and naturalized across the South in the 230 years since that most Southerners assume it is native. Crape murder is a real horticultural problem. The widespread practice of severely topping Crape Myrtles, cutting them back to ugly stubs each winter in a misguided attempt to control size, is so destructive and so prevalent that horticulturists coined the term crape murder to describe it. Correctly pruned or unpruned Crape Myrtles develop beautiful natural forms that require no topping. The topping practice creates weak, rapidly growing watersprouts and destroys the natural grace of the tree permanently. The flower petals look crinkled because they are. The petals of Crape Myrtle flowers are naturally crinkled and ruffled in a way that resembles crepe paper, which is where the common name comes from. This texture is visible up close and is one of the distinctive textural qualities of the flower. The ruffling increases the surface area of the petal and gives the flower clusters their characteristic full, frothy appearance. Seed-grown trees take 3 to 5 years to first flower but develop stronger root systems. Crape Myrtles grown from seed bloom in their own genetic colors, which vary from soft pastel pink through deep magenta, lavender, and near-white. The specific flower color cannot be known until the tree first blooms. This genetic lottery is part of the appeal of growing from seed. Growing Details Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia indica Stratification: Not required USDA Zones: 6 to 10 Soil: Well-drained, adaptable, tolerates poor or dry soils once established Light: Full sun, requires full sun for maximum flowering Height: 15 to 30 feet Spread: 15 to 25 feet Growth Rate: Moderate to fast, 1 to 3 feet per year Plant it in full sun where you will see the flowers from inside the house in August. No other tree fills that window with more color during the months when you most want it.
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