What is another name for a crape myrtle?
Lagerstroemia indica, commonly known as a crape myrtle (also crepe myrtle, crêpe myrtle, or crepeflower), is a species of flowering plant in the genus Lagerstroemia of the family Lythraceae. It originated in China. Remember that fall is the perfect time to plant trees like Crape Myrtles. It gives the roots all winter to grow, allowing the tree to emerge strong and healthy in the spring.Crape myrtles are very hardy, so they are very forgiving during periods of neglect or over pruning, but imagine the display of flowers your plant will give you with the proper care! Newer branches won’t be able to hold the weight of the blooms due to growing too long and weak especially when wet.Another controversy surrounding crape myrtles is that they are not native to the United States. They are actually native to China and other Asian countries. These trees first made their way to England and from there to the United States by way of Charleston, South Carolina, in 1786.All parts of Crape Myrtle plants are safe, including the foliage, bark, flowers, berries, and seed pods.
Does crepe myrtle spread?
In fact, the entire crepe myrtle root system is shallow and fibrous, spreading out horizontally up to three times as far as the canopy is wide. On the other hand, it is wise to keep all trees at least 5 to 10 feet (2. Crape Myrtles began being cut back after recommendation of cutting the dead flower buds from the previous season. This was to promote more blooms in the next season. Crape myrtles grow very tall so people began cutting them where they could reach resulting in the masses cutting the trees back to nothing.Crepe myrtle bushes tend to grow shorter with a shrubby form. They often have several stems growing from the base. These are great as ornamental shrubs, border plants, or in group plantings. Crepe myrtle trees, on the other hand, grow upright.Crape myrtles are heat loving trees and often they are one of the last trees to leaf out in spring. They require at least three days above 70ºF to wake and show bud break. This can be as early as April or as late as early May. Once warm weather arrives in earnest they will grow steadily.Surprising Health Benefits Crepe myrtle trees are not only beautiful additions to gardens, but they also help to improve people’s health. The trees help in inhibiting certain types of cancer, aids in bone repair, and slows down aging. It does this through its chemical compounds.Whether you call them crepe myrtles or crape myrtles, these summer blooming plants are extremely adaptable and fast growing and are ideal for shaping into single- or multi-trunked trees. Pruning crapemyrtles into tree-forms accentuates plant architecture and highlights the showy, dappled bark.
What is the lifespan of a crape myrtle?
Crepe myrtles have a lifespan of around 25 years. However, some crepe myrtles have been known to live for 100 years or more! This tree does best in full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and can withstand extreme heat. Lifespan of Crepe Myrtle Crepe myrtles live quite a few years if you take care of them. A crepe myrtle lifespan can exceed 50 years.Crape myrtles planted in winter, spring, and fall should manage well with just one deep watering per week, but if you choose to plant in summer, you may need to add an extra weekly watering if there are heatwave or drought conditions.When establishing your plant, water it several times a week. For Crepe Myrtle Shrubs, this establishment period typically lasts several months to a year depending on the size of the shrub. Well-established plants need to be watered weekly. This is especially important in hot and dry climates.The common crape myrtle can reach a height of 15–25′ and a spread of 6–15′ at maturity. With ideal planting conditions this shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24 per year.
What are crepe myrtles used for?
Crape myrtle is used for buffer strips around parking lots, for median strip plantings along highways, near decks, patios, as shade trees in small parking lots and around homes. Do not plant crape myrtle under the shade of large, overhanging trees. Crape myrtle needs around 6 hours of sunlight per day for best flowering. Additionally, too much shade can lead to issues like powdery mildew and other diseases.Choosing a Planting Location Crape Myrtle Trees need plenty of sun, so choose a bright sunny spot for your planting. They are idea for those hot, dry places where other plants do not thrive, so take advantage of that and use them in places that can be hard to fill.Choosing a Planting Location Crape Myrtle Trees need plenty of sun, so choose a bright sunny spot for your planting. They are idea for those hot, dry places where other plants do not thrive, so take advantage of that and use them in places that can be hard to fill.Don’t plant crape myrtles in shade. Crape myrtles perform their best in 6+ hours of blistering full sun per day. Even light shade at various times during the day will greatly reduce flowering, cause the tree to appear thin, and force it to reach for the sun, creating a leggy look.
What are the disadvantages of crape myrtles?
The most common problems we see with crape myrtle can be “crape MURDER”, some leaf diseases, like powdery mildew, crape myrtle bark scale, aphids, and beetles. Invasive Roots Some larger Crepe Myrtle varieties have vigorous root systems that can spread widely or become invasive, potentially damaging sidewalks, foundations, and sewer lines. Careful selection and placement of the plant can mitigate these risks.Damage – The crapemyrtle aphid is the only significant insect pest of crepe myrtles in the Southeast. Because it feeds on the lower surface of crepe myrtle foliage, it is inconspicuous except for the copious amounts of honeydew that it excretes.From regular suckers that need to be trimmed regularly to a vigorous root system that makes it nearly impossible to get rid of, there are many hidden downsides of growing a crepe myrtle tree. As a nonnative, crepe myrtles also aren’t the best choice for gardeners who want to attract birds and pollinators to their yard.About 2 foot to the ground and they will come back round and beautiful like a bush. They are hard to kill out. It’s hard to kill a crepe Myrtle. It won’t hurt them.