From the delicate, paper
thin, showy flowers to the superb bark and foliage, the
crapemyrtle is a favorite landscape plant throughout the
South.
From the delicate, paper
thin, showy flowers to the superb bark and foliage, the
crapemyrtle is a favorite landscape plant throughout the
South.
Introduced to North America in 1747, the crapemyrtle is native to China and Korea. It can thrive from North Alabama to the Gulf Coast.
The crapemyrtle is an adaptable plant. It grows best in moist, well-drained soils; prefers full sun; and is drought resistant. To produce large flowers and control larger growing cultivars, plants should be pruned before the new growth emerges in the spring. Blooms are most abundant in soils low in nutrients, especially nitrogen. Throughout the blooming season, additional flowering can be stimulated by fertilization and the removal of faded blooms.
Crapemyrtles can be used as shrubs or trees, ranging in size from 18 inches to more than 25 feet. They are often planted in groups, underplanted with a ground cover. The smaller varieties can be used as hedges, screens or in masses. When planted in this manner, crapemyrtles offer a grand display of color throughout the summer months.
Crapemyrtles
are commonly multitrunked but can be trained to a single
trunk. A canopy of foliage covers the top half of the
plant, while the bottom half remains leafless, revealing the
beautiful bark. The leaves are a glossy medium green,
turning yellow, red-orange or red in the fall. The smooth
bark exfoliates, flaking off in irregular patches to reveal
various shades of brown to gray.
The flowers are the most prominent features of the crapemyrtle. They are formed in large panicles ranging from 6 to 8 inches in length and 3 to 5 inches in width. The petals have a crinkled appearance similar to crepe paper, hence the name crapemyrtle. Flower color ranges from white to various shades of pink, purple and red. Blooming season is from mid-June through September.
Crapemyrtle must be grown in full sun for satisfactory flowering and to reduce disease problems. While it will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, crapemyrtle does not thrive in a wet location once established.
Container-grown plants can be planted any time of the year, however they must be watered conscientiously, particularly if they are planted in the summer. Balled and burlapped and bare-root plants generally become better established if they are planted during the dormant season. Crapemyrtle roots remain active until early winter. Crapemyrtle transplants easily and should be moved during the fall or late winter.
Heading back crapemyrtle in late winter promotes lush new growth in the spring. Flowers are produced on the current season’s growth, so flowers develop even after pruning. Severe pruning is not recommended because it destroys the natural character of the plant and may promote sucker growth on the trunk.
A few pests, especially aphids and Florida wax scale, can be a problem for crapemyrtle. Diseases such as powdery mildew, black spot, sooty mold, tip blight, leaf spot and root rot can also be a problem.
Source: Dr. Dave Williams, Extension Horticulturist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-3032