One of the most darling , iconic trees of the Confederate States , crepe Vinca minor is prize for its long , vibrant bloom of youth period in the height of summertime rut . usually called the “ lilac of the South , ” the spelling of this tree is a litmus trial of geographical descent . Crepe myrtle is the most ordinarily accepted “ southerly ” spelling ; north of some unspecified crepe - myrtle line , it becomes crape myrtle . But despite the departure in spelling , this survival of the fittest systematically offers clouds of blooms , attractive exfoliate bark , colourful foliage color in fall , and a potpourri of size ranging from 20 ” bush to 30 ’ trees . In fact , this multi - stemmed deciduous plant life is deliberate either a tree or a shrub depending on size . Cultivar heights range from dwarf to semi - dwarf , medium to tall . The exfoliate barque peel off away to discover a trunk which ranges in colouration from many handsome shades of brown to gray to pink . This bark is specially obtrusive in the winter months when the tree is leafless , give crepe Vinca minor its prizedfour - season pastime .
Lagerstroemiais a genus of about 40 species of deciduous and evergreen shrub and trees from strong - temperate to tropic orbit of Asia to Australia . The genus name honors Magnus von Lagerstroem ( 1691 - 1759 ) , Swedish botanist , Director of the Swedish East Indies Company , and friend of Linnaeus . The most common specie in the United States isLagerstroemia indica . Although native to China and Korea , the species name ( indica)indicates that the plant originated on the Native American subcontinent . When Europeans first encountered crape myrtle in India , they wear it was native to that localization . It was introduce into South Carolina in the late 1700s.L.fauriei , aboriginal to Japan , is another mintage see in the United States . hybrid of the two specie in the main bring about first-class selection .
PLANTING
The idealistic planting situation is in well - prepared , well - drain grease , with full sun picture and effective air circulation . French pancake myrtles found in partial or full shadiness will have reduced efflorescence and increase disease susceptibility . The industrial plant will tolerate slightly alkaline to acidic ( 5.0 to 6.5 pH ) clay and other soil textures . Although drought - kind , it want irrigation until it becomes well - set up ( approximately two days ) .
FERTILIZATION
calorie-free fertilization is best;heavy fecundation can increase foliage yield at the disbursal of flowering . luminosity app program of a thoroughgoing fertilizer in spring after leaves have seem and in summertime are adequate . A complete general - purpose garden fertilizer — such as 8 - 8 - 8 , 10 - 10 - 10 , 12 - 4 - 8 or 16 - 4 - 8 — is ideal . For fresh – planted minor plants ( 1 - gallon sizing ) , apply 1 teaspoonful of fertilizeralong the circumference of the planting hole monthlyfrom March to August . Larger , established plants will profit from one program app of fertilizer in spring after the leaf have appeared . The good time to fertilize is just before a rain . Otherwise , water in the fertilizer after practical app . It is not necessary to remove mulch when fertilizing .
PRUNING
Flowers are grow on young growth . On small plant life , a 2nd bloom can be encourage by pruning efflorescence like a shot after they fade . Severe pruning of French pancake myrtle has become a mutual practice to maintain bush size . Chopping off the peak of crape myrtles , know as “ topping ” or “ Crape Murder ” ruin the natural , graceful effect of the plant . Many dwarf and semi - dwarf cultivars are now available , making it possible for the homeowner to have the desire plant size while maintaining the raw ramification event . The good room to maintain a crape myrtle is to plant an appropriate cultivar that will originate to the height and spread desired at maturity .
Corrective pruning should be done to remove damaged or dead branches when a trouble is detected . Otherwise , prune while the plant is dormant ( wintertime or early spring ) to hit lateral branches , pocket-sized sprig , or ramification in the shopping center of the plant life to spread out more space for sunshine and line movement .
To develop a tree shape , remove all but three to five of the strong trunk at solid ground tier . As these trunk mature , remove low , lateral outgrowth ( aka ‘ limbing - up ’ ) to one - third or halfway up the acme of the plant life . get rid of arm that are crossing or rubbing against each other as well as shoots spring up into the center of the canopy . Make track to a side branch or close to the trunk . As the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree grows grandiloquent , remove low branches as need . Remove any succeeding growth from the ground to retain the desire tree diagram conformation . Basal sprouting may go on whether the tree diagram has been pruned or not . When possible , rive these sprout out while still succulent . hold off a growing time of year or two before grooming and form tree forms to allow them to get give and build reserves .
For more information on the pruning of crape Vinca minor , refer to the Clemson Cooperative Extension , HGIC 1009 , Crape Myrtle Pruning
When a turgid crape myrtle is in a spot where a low , compact plant is desired , there are two options : ( 1 ) dig up the offending specimen and then plant a dwarf or small cultivar that requires little to no maintenance , or ( 2 ) lop the stems back to about six inches above the ground each year . terrible pruning will not vote down or injure a healthy crape Vinca minor .
PROPAGATION
crepe myrtle is propagated easily from semi - hard wood newspaper clipping taken during natural spring and summer . Take 6 - 8 ” cutting from new growth , leaving three to four node per cutting and several farewell . settle down hormone is generally not necessary , and cuttings should root in three to four weeks . Place press cutting in well - drained steady down medium in a shaded domain ; keep them damp by enclosing them in a clear-cut fictile bag . The immature root flora can be transplanted to their lasting location during the pin and winter . ( Note : It ’s illegal to propagate plants that are still under patent . )
DISEASES AND PESTS
crepe myrtles are susceptible to many problems including : powdery mold , sooty mold , smutty billet , tip blight , Cercospera leaf bit , and beginning rot . Aphids and Florida wax scale , also potential cuss , take place relatively infrequently .
Powdery mildew is a common disease in early summertime during hot , dry weather . It appears as a lily-white , powdery coating or spots on leaves and flower buds . intervention is rarely needed , although heavy contagion of the flower bud can cause them to abort .
Sooty mold is an unsightly trivial , grim dark-brown or pitch-black app on leaves and stems that can be polish off by rub . It is the upshot of a fungus growing on dearest - dew evacuation made by insects such as aphid . industrial plant vigor may be decreased because of the decrease of photosynthesis in the leaves due to shading .
Tip blight results from a fungus that stimulate leaf near the summit of the tree branch to turn brown in spring or summer . Look close at the septic foliage to see the small calamitous spore - bearing bodies .
Cercospora folio place is a fungus disease that occurs more in mid - to - former summer , particularly when conditions is showery . dingy spots show up on the leave , which then ferment yellow or orange and drop . Even though trees may lose a large portion of their leaves , there are no foresightful - term , serious health effects . By the time you see this disease , spray is not effective .
Crape myrtle is resistant to cervid .
SELECTION CRITERIA
pick out a crape myrtle is not just a matter of pick out a particular coloring . The want ripe size of it is a major consideration . The garden normal of “ ripe plant , right place ” is expanded to“right size , correct place . ”Because crape myrtles are best if not pruned , size selection becomes paramount . James Hodges of the Clemson Extension advises the following stair for choosing well - accommodate , fittingly - sized plants in desirable coloring material :
NATIONAL ARBORETUM CULTIVARS
Many of the successful French pancake Vinca minor cultivars have been developed by theNational Arboretumresearch and education platform . Many of thesehybrids are call for Native American tribes , which makes it easy for gardeners to recall and to distinguish particular selections . These cultivars were also develop for mold resistance . The fledged heights of these trees vary by temperature , i.e. , they may grow to the high end of the posit range ( or more ) in southern climates but remain much smaller in colder climates . As you will see from the following list , sizing at maturity is significantly bear upon by temperature . The following list represent some of the cultivar developed at the National Arboretum;all are advocate for Zone 7 or lower . All have non-white greenish foliage that offers declension coloration , exfoliate barque , and final inflorescences ( panicle ) of flowers .
Lagerstroemia‘Natchez ’ grows 4 ’ to 21 ’ improbable ; orange tree to red fall color ; dark cinnamon bark ; and 6 - 12 ” tenacious snowy bloom .
Lagerstroemia indica ‘ Muskogee ’ develop to 12 ’ to 25 ’ tall ; reddish - orange declination gloss ; gray to tan bark ; up to 10 ” long light lilac-colored - pinkish prime .
Laerstroemia ‘ Yuma ’ grows 6′ to 20′ marvelous ; dull yellow - orange fall colour ; grayish - brown bark ; up to 14″ long bicolored lavender flowers .
Lagerstroemia ‘ Choctaw ’ acquire 3 ’ to 18 ’ tall ; bronze to maroon decline color ; dark bark evidence lightsome brown scale ; 7 - 17″ long bright pink blossom .
Lagerstroemia‘Apalachee ’ grows 2 ’ to 12 ’ tall ; dull orange tree to drab crimson fall color ; cinnamon to grey barque ; 5 - 9 ” recollective lightsome lavender flowers .
Lagerstroemia‘Tuscarora ’ grow 2 ’ to 16 ’ tall ; ruby - orange tumble color ; mottled tan bark ; 6 - 12 ” long dark coral - pinkish prime .
Lagerstroemia indica‘Hopi ’ grows 4 ’ to 11 ’ marvellous ; reddish - orange fall color ; grayish - brown barque ; 6 - 7 ” prospicient light pink flowers .
Lagerstroemia ‘ Comanche ’ grows 3 ’ to 11 ’ tall ; blue orangeness to dark ruby - purple fall color ; mottled sandlewood bark ; 6 - 9 ” coral - pink flowers .
Lagerstroemia‘Acoma ’ grows 2 ’ to 10 ’ tall ; dull red or reddish - purple crepuscle colour ; grey bark ; 6 - 7 ” long lily-white flowers .
Lagerstroemia‘Potomac ’ mature 2 ’ to 10 ’ marvelous ; dull orange to dark red fall colouration ; grey bark ; 6 - 8 ” long intermediate pinkish flowers .
Lagerstroemia ‘ Tonto ’ grows 2 ’ to 11 ’ magniloquent ; obtuse redness to reddish - purple capitulation color ; beige bark ; 6 - 7 ” farseeing brilliant magenta flowers .
DWARF CULTIVARS
The RAZZLE DAZZLE serial publication ® of sixdwarf plantswas develop at a Michael Dirr breeding syllabus at the Center for Applied Nursery Research in Dearing , Georgia . These deciduous , multi - stemmed cultivars are remark for easiness of tutelage , fantabulous flower colors , fine-looking leaf , succinct habit , and good disease resistance . If spent flowers are quick deadheaded , extra flowers will continue to bloom into downfall . peak give room to round semen capsules which often persist well into wintertime .
The following are deciduous , mildew - resistantdwarf French pancake myrtle cultivars develop by the National Arboretum in Washington , D.C.
MIDSIZED CRAPE myrtle
Micheal Dirr has also developed aBarnyard ® series ofmidsized crepe myrtles , include :
Note that , as with any new cultivars , an prefatory period in the general market will provide more info on cold - hardiness , disease , desired moisture level , and sun necessity .
WARNINGS
During the tenacious blooming season , older flowers throw away out of the Tree . This is a nuisance when trees are plant near patio , pools , and parked cars . Honeydew drops from aphids may also amaze on railroad car or terrace piece of furniture .
A common problem with crape myrtles is hurt from the regardless use of mowers and strand trimmer joist around the foot of these thinly - barked tree diagram . To prevent this case of damage , do not permit smoke to turn within a foot of the trunk . To discourage weeds , traverse the area around the tree base with about 4 ” of mulch draw back more or less from the bole .
habit IN THE LANDSCAPE
Because of the great diverseness in size of various cultivarsnow offer , crape myrtle can be planted as specimen Tree or as a vivid border of colouration in group plantings . Midsized cultivars can be used in smaller landscape . midget variety declare oneself a brilliant , long - live on colouring material to perennial bed or to foundation plantings . They can even be used in planters and placed on deck and patios . The people of colour palette is panoptic and beautiful . The crepe myrtle ’s historical mien in southern garden will become even more rife now that it ’s been give so many young looks !
SOURCES
At top of article , photo ofLagerstroemia‘Muskogee ’ by David J. Lang
“ Lagerstroemia - indica,”https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu / plants / all / lagerstroemia - indica/
“ Crape Myrtle Pruning , https://hgic.clemson.edu / factsheet / crepe - myrtle - pruning/
“ Star Gardener : Not all Crape Myrtles are make Equal,”http://easthamptonstar.com / Arts/4 / Star - Gardener - Not - All - Crape - Myrtles - Are - Created - Equal
“ Choosing Right Crepe Myrtles,”http://www.indexjournal.com / lifestyles / editorialist / clemson - extension / clemson - annex - choosing - right hand - crape - Vinca minor / article_ec8198a4 - 7e4a-5a81 - 96b6 - 0332e5a995b5.html
“ Crape Myrtle,”https://hgic.clemson.edu / factsheet / crape - myrtle/
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map , http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov / PHZMWeb/
“ Crape Myrtle Culture – University of Georgia,”https://secure.caes.uga.edu / university extension / publication / files / pdf / C%20944_5.PDF
Clemson University ’s HGIC plant life search internet site , https://hgic.clemson.edu/
Gardener ’s Confidence Collection , https://gardenersconfidence.com / plants / red - rooster - crapemyrtle
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder , http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org / PlantFinder / PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=250246&isprofile=1&basic = genus Lagerstroemia
