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Lagerstroemia indica

Crape Myrtle, Common Crapemyrtle

Pronunciation
lag-er-STRO-mee-ah IN-dee-cah
Family
Nativity

China, Korea

Growth Habit

Shrub or small tree, often multi-stemmed.

Hardiness
7
Culture

Prefers moist, well drained soil

Landscape Use

Crapemyrtle is a beautiful small tree or large shrub ideal for specimen plantings or in small groups. Growth habit is variable but typically seen in a multi-stemmed form with a cloud of dense foliage on the upper portion and no foliage towards the base, exposing the handsome multi-colored, exfoliating bark. 15-25 feet tall is a typical size range, but this also varies. Leaves are opposite and privet-like (rounded at the base, entire margins, elliptic to oblong). New leaves are yellowish green and change to a deep lustrous green in the summer. Fall color is a stunning orange, red or yellow. Flowers emerge in mid-summer and have a huge range of colors (white, light pink, dark pink, to nearly red). Will flower throuh the summer if spent flowers from the first flush are pruned off. The 6-petals are distinctly crinkled. Fruits start to develop in fall and persist through the winter.

Foliage

New leaves yellowish green:Lustrous medium to dark green at maturity:Yellowish orange in fall:Fall

Buds

Buds are small, appressed.

Bark

Mottled, peeling bark has tan, reddish, orangish, brown, and gray patches.

Flower

Six-petaled flowers are borne on 6-8 inch long panicles and can be red, pink, purplish, or white.

Fruit

Brown, persistent, six-valved capsule holds seeds.

Propagation

Softwood cuttings of young growth taken in May, June, July or semi-hardwood cuttings will root. Softwood, treat with 1000 ppm IBA quick-dip.

Pests
powdery mildew and leaf spot are of most concern.

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