Crape-Myrtles in Southern Landscaping
93One of the most beautiful of summer blooming shrubs and trees in southern landscapes is the Crape Myrtle.
The official name of this eye-catching plant is Lagerstroemia.
The crape myrtle can be grown as a bushy shrub or as a tree all depending upon how it is pruned and trimmed. New draping varieties can even be displayed in hanging baskets.
The height of the various forms of crape myrtle varies from about 18 inches to over 40 feet.
Color variations and shades of the different varieties can range from white to pink to lavender to purple and even red.
Photos of crape myrtles taken in our subdivision in the month of June.
- Lagerstroemia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Information about growing habits of the different species of crape myrtles
Crape myrtle in bloom
Blooming crape myrtle
- HGIC 1009 Crape Myrtle Pruning : Extension : Clemson University : South Carolina
How to properly prune crape myrtles
The plants thrive in hot and sunny climates so are generally seen in Zone 6 and below in the United States. There are, however, newer and hardier varieties that can grow in colder climes.
The Lagerstroemias are native to India, Australia and southwest Asia.
Their very showy blooming period lasts from 60 to 120 days and adds so much in the way of grandeur to yards, parks and esplanades when the right time of year arrives.....that being summertime here in the south.
The blooming period can actually be extended if the spent flowering heads are pruned off. As the flowers develop on the new growth each year, this allows for another flower head to develop in time to re-flower.
We used to have two crape myrtles in the front of our yard at our old house years ago. They grew fairly rapidly as most plants do in the south and produced gorgeous flowers.
One problem we had with them and why we ultimately removed them was the constant battle we had with powdery mildew, leaf spot and black sooty mold.
All of these things can occur on crape myrtles and I have now discovered how this could have been better handled.
At the time, I took leaf samples into a nursery and all that they told me to do was spray with fungicide every week or two until the problem was resolved.
Now.......long after the fact.......I have learned that our plants were not pruned properly to allow much needed air flow through the branches which could have kept the problem from developing in the first place, or, at least minimized it.
There is a good video and link describing how proper pruning can not only alleviate fungal problems from developing, but can also create a much more pleasing appearance to the crape myrtle plants as they grow into wonderful specimens of great beauty. Be sure and watch the video if you are considering planting crape myrtles in your yard or garden.
The other thing that has happened over the course of years is that hardier disease resistant varieties have been developed.
So do some homework before you purchase crape myrtles and you will be rewarded by years of flowering splendor for many months of each year.
The bark of the crape myrtles keeps shedding and peeling off and what eventually results is a white-like hard stalk that is smooth and is alluring in its own right.
One neighbor that used to live near my mother at her former house was cutting down a couple of crape myrtle trees but was saving the attractive pieces of stalks (branches) to be utilized as drapery rods. They would have provided not only support for the curtains or drapes but would have been focal points of beauty all by themselves.
What a clever use of these eye-catching hard wood branches!
The photos in this hub show just a few of the many brilliantly blooming crape myrtles in our neighborhood today.
When my family moved from Wisconsin to Texas many years ago, we heard someone refer to crape myrtles as the "lilacs of the south."
They do have a similar shaped flower head but do not have the fragrance of lilacs.
If you think of crepe paper and then look at a crape myrtle blossom, you will understand how it got that name. Very delicate ruffled and thin petals make up a crape myrtle flower.
Landscapes all over the south are graced this time of year with the varicolored crape myrtles in a heyday of peak color. Few blooming shrubs or trees offer so much coloration for so long a time. As the heat sizzles, the crape myrtles are at their sublime best.
Nicely pruned crape myrtle used as landscape foundation plant against house.
The bark and roots of an older crape-myrtle trees
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Pruning and trimming crape myrtles correctly
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Location where my crape-myrtle photos were taken...
Houston - 
More plant / garden hubs by Peggy W...
- Nature Pictures - Art in our Backyard
- Pictures - Mushroom - Fungi - Wild ones!
Some are beautiful...others, unusual...all useful!
- Pictures of the Bradford Pear ~ Fast Growing Decorative Trees for Landscape Design
- Southern Magnolias in Deep South Landscapes
See photos and videos of the Southern Magnolia trees and learn about how to grow and care for them. The blossoms are spectacular and fragrant! - Pictures of the Beautiful Spring Flowering Redbud Tree in Landscapes
- Outdoor Landscaping using Red Tip Photinias ~ Good Idea?
- I have rocks in my head, oops!, I mean bed!
- The very versatile ginger plant gracing our backyard
Landscaping and so much more...
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We have quite a few of these specimens near our house, here in Southern California, and they're a great harbinger of spring. But they seem to bloom earlier and earlier each year. Voting this Up and Beautiful.
Hello sgbrown,
Nice that you have the crape myrtles in your very own yard to enjoy and admire. They certainly do bloom for a long period of time. Thanks for your visit and votes.
Hello Peggy W. I love crepe myrtles. I have one in my yard now and plan on planting many more. They have such great colors and bloom almost continually in the summer. Great hub! You actually have many hubs that I will be going back and reading. Thanks for SHARING! Voted up and useful. Have a very happy Valentine's Day! :)
Hi Eddy,
Glad that you enjoyed this hub on the Crape-Myrtles. Thanks for your comment and votes.
So very very beautiful and here's to so many more to share on here.
I vote up up and away here.
Take care and enjoy the rest of your day.
Eddy.
Hello gryphin432,
Perhaps it is not too late to do some pruning of your crape myrtle plant? Maybe just a little tweaking would have it appear even more beautiful. They certainly are a gorgeous shrub or tree depending upon how they are trimmed and allowed to grow. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Peggy, I love crape myrtles! I have one in my front yard, unfortunately the previous owner of the house had not seen your pruning video :-( It is still beautiful but it could have been so much stronger if it didn't have so many branches. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Robin,
There is no reason that you cannot cut the crape myrtle blooms and put them in a vase however since that flower spike blooms for a period of time on the shrub/tree, it may not last nearly as long when cut. When the flowering is over and at that point if you cut off the dead bloom, it may actually reflower again for you. So do as you like. :)) Only wish they smelled like the fragrant lilacs! Thanks for your comment.
We just planted a crepe myrtle tree in our front yard next to the driveway to bring in a bit of color. I will definitely watch the video before it is pruned! Do you know if the flowers can be put in a vase like a lilac? I'm very excited to see it grow and bloom, even more so now after reading your Hub!
Hi thelyricwriter,
So happy to hear that you enjoyed the pictures and information about crepe myrtles as they are used in Southern landscaping. They are still blooming in Houston and it is now October. Thanks for your comment and votes.
Peggy, another wonderful article with so much useful information and great pictures. It is always great to come over and get away for a few minutes. You capture everythings true beauty. You have my votes.
Hi Rosie,
If you have more room in your yard, this might be a good time of year to purchase some bargain priced crepe myrtles. Most of the plants in the nurseries down here are greatly discounted this time of year. Thanks for your comment.
Great article. Crepe myrtles line some of our neighbor's driveways. I love the canopy they create and the beautiful colors they bring. I have only one Crepe Myrtle bush in white but would love to have some of the trees in the brighter colors.
Hi Maggie,
That is a surprise that the crape myrtles do well in Pennsylvania. Am sure that more people up there will want to try growing them after reading your comment. Are they in a protected environment? Up close to a house or sheltered in another way? Nice that you can enjoy them as we can down here in the South. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for a most informative video. I'm from Northeastern Pennsylvania (zone 5A or 6) where crape myrtles are not supposed to grow! I loved them so much on a trip to VA beach that I thought I'd try. I now have 4 and all are doing well. My pink one is about 7-8 ft tall, the others younger and smaller but thriving. Sure was worth taking a chance.
Hi Lucky Cats,
Nice that you can also enjoy the Crape Myrtles where you live. They are in full bloom right now in Houston and will be for quite some time to come. Thanks for your comment and votes. Appreciate it! :))
Wonderful hub, Peggy. I have always loved Crape Myrtles for the fabulous color and length of flowering stage. We've had them in N. California and, now, in SE Kansas. Even with the incredibly cold, freezing temps. of winter, these beautiful shrubs and trees grow back...even if the shrub variety has sustained dieback to ground level, they return...trees do well, too; much to my amazement. You've pointed out an excellent bit of information; to avoid fungus, mold and mildew, we must trim the dead and extra growth back to allow air flow. When my friend, Al, first suggested this to me; I thought he was a little wacky...then, of course, I realized he was right. We also "deadhead" the spent flower tops so that a second growth can occur......extending the length of flowering even more.
Haven't tried fashioning a curtain rod from branches, though...good idea, however.
Thank you for a very good and beautifully presented hub! UP Beautiful, Useful, Awesome and Interesting.
Hello Dave,
Crape Myrtles do not have fragrance like lilacs do. I used to love the fragrance of lilac shrubs when we lived up north. My parents had a hedge of them when I was a child and I still remember their wonderful smell. Unfortunately they do not grow down here in Houston. The upside to the crape myrtles compared to lilacs is that they bloom for a much longer period of time.
Be sure and take your pillow when you go outside to "sleep in the flowerbed!" Haha! Thanks for your comment.
Hello Landscaping Melbourne,
Thanks for the compliment on this hub about using crape-mrytles in southern landscaping. Do you use them where you live?
WOW, what super photos. I really like that myrtle plant...purple is so pretty on a flowering plant! And they smell good too. Makes me want to go out and sleep in the flowerbed! LOL
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Hi KoffeeKlatch Gals,
We had them at our former home and no room to add them at our current home...so we admire the crepe-myrtles in many of the yards around us. They are certainly a popular and beautiful plant for southern landscaping! Thanks for the comment. Enjoy yours!!! :-)
Peggy, beautiful pictures. I love crepe myrtles, we have several in our yeard. Great information.
Hello soaps,
Thanks for your appreciative comment on this Crepe Myrtle hub for southern landscaping. :-)
Nice very nice i really like this hub.
Hi Mrs. J.B.,
You have really been busy reading hubs! Glad that you liked this one about Crepe-Myrtles in Southern Landscaping. I also like the pink ones. Thanks!
Absolutely beautiful. I love the bright pink..
Hello DeBorrah K. Ogans,
Thanks for commenting on this hub about Crepe Myrtles in Southern Landscaping. I agree that they add so much beauty to lawns and gardens when in bloom. :-)
Peggy W, Nice informative hub! The Crepe Myrtle beautifully enhances any landscape! They are so colorful when blooming... Thank you for sharing, Peace & Blessings!
Hi Micky,
I know why you like live oak trees better than the crepe myrtles and that is because they are the homes to your squirrels. Right? They surely love the live oaks (and water oaks for that matter) in this area! Thanks for the comment.
My favorite tree is without doubt, the Live Oak. I'm trying to think of another I like more than the Crepe-Myrtle but nothing comes to mind. Thank you Dear Peggy!
Hello Happyboomernurse,
Thanks for the comments on this Crepe Myrtle hub and also for letting me know that I left off the comment box in the Bradford Pear Tree hub. I just corrected that! Good luck with your pruning of your crepe myrtles in the future. They are such a beautiful tree/shrub...depending upon how they are grown.
Hi Peggy,
Crape Myrtles are my favorite ornamental tree and I have several in my back yard that have bloomed profusely in the summers. I've looked up pruning information in the past, and pruned mine the best I can, but the pruning video you embedded in this hub will be very useful in the future. Your landscaping hubs are always so informative and beautiful. I also read the newest one on the Branford Pear trees and loved it, but couldn't find a comment box. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
Hello The Drain Team,
It depends upon where you live. Here in Houston plants tend to grow really fast with the warmth and humidity. A five gallon sized plant would be very large here in a couple of years. You could probably check with some local nurseries and get their opinion. Personally I have never purchased really large plants because in a few years time, the smaller ones seem to be almost equal in size and the money saved can be substantial. My former next door neighbor purchased a large tree for hundreds of dollars and had it planted. We planted a 5 gallon sized one (both oak trees) and within 3 years, muchless 5 years, there was absolutely no difference in size. Hope that this answers your question. Good luck on planting your crape myrtle!
If I wanted to make sure the Crape Mertyle is a prominent fixture on the corner of my house within a couple of years, how big would it have to be when I plant it.
Hi billyaustindillon,
The main problem with Crape Myrtles in our area is the mold which can form on their leaves in Houston's humid environment. That being said, most of them seem to thrive and certainly add beauty and color to the landscapes. Currently we have none in our yard but enjoy the ones in neighbor's yards.
They are gorgeous when flowering - we have one in the front and they are very easy maintenance which suits me fine :)
The best way to spice up your landscaping is with great lighting and electrical work. Check out this
Hi habee,
You are fortunate to have crape-myrtles in your yard. They are beautiful indeed!
Beautiful! I have a few of these in my yard.
Hi mhuze,
I agree that Crape Myrtles are beautiful. You are fortunate to have one of your very own in your front yard. What color is it?
Crape Myrtles are beautiful! I have one in my front yard.
Great hub!
Hello Brisbane Landscaping,
Wow! A visit from someone in Australia! Thanks for visiting my Crape-Myrtles in Southern Landscaping hub.
The pictures are awesome have tried to create such magic but to avail will keep visiting our hub as it is highly informative along with visuals.
Hi James,
Crape Myrtles are pretty and I learned more about them than I knew previously by doing this hub. Thanks for the comment.
I have three pink Crape Myrtles right out here in my yard and the lady across the street has two. I love 'em. Thanks for the informative Hub. I never knew much about Crape Myrtles. All I do is look at them. :)
Hello RTalloni,
I agree with you that white is a cool and restful color in the heat of the summer. From the sounds of it, you really enjoy your tall and shade providing crape-myrtle. Enjoy that summer "snow." A bit easier to contend with than the real thing. LOL
This was great. My favorite is white, even on the blonde brick house in your picture. The white makes a show case for everything and is so soothing in the heat. I let mine grow tall and have pruned them around a sitting area for shade from the southern sun. When the blooms fall we have summer lovely snow. :)
Hi MasonsMom,
Glad that you can also enjoy these beautiful crape-myrtles with having one in your very own back yard. They certainly add beauty to southern landscapes! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Great information! We have one in our back yard & it is so pretty!
Hello blueangel says:
Glad that you liked this hub about Crape Myrtles in Southern Landscapes. Have more up my sleeve... LOL
"thanks a lot it is so colorful....thanks again......"
KEEP it up '-'
Hello Samantha,
Crape Myrtles are beautiful, I'll admit. Perhaps there is too much humidity in Florida? I still miss the wonderful lilac bushes that grow up north. Guess we can't have everything! Thanks for the comment.
Peggy- How I miss crape myrtles! Now living in south, south Florida that just do not do well here. Great photos as well.
Hello Jon,
What a glorious view you must have of your bank of pink crape-myrtles in your backyard landscape. They are truly the "lilacs of the south." Enjoy that coffee! Thanks for the comment.
Peggy,
We have them all over the backside of property - All of ours are pink - Love looking at them while sipping our coffee on the back patio each morning.
Hello EdenvaleShoppes,
Thanks for the compliment on my Crape-Myrtles in Southern Landscapes hub. Hope it offered information that you can utilize. Also thanks for the comment.
Nice Hub!!
Thanks..
Greetings Karen_S,
So happy if this hub about Crape-Myrtles in Southern Landscapes will be a help to your new planting efforts. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
What a great hub! Thanks for the advice about mildew. We've been thinking about Crape Myrtles for our yard, but have serious issues with mildew. Know I know what to look for when shopping for a new tree.
Hello jandersen, Glad you liked this and found it useful. Thanks for the comment.
Beautiful photos and very informative hub!
Hi again frogyfish, No apologies necessary. Thought that your "Iha" was some kind of code that I simply did not know. Ha!
Sorry to hear about your sweet dog Ginger being one of the ones affected by that bad dog food. That was certainly a scary time for all of us who are animal lovers.
Hope your crape myrtle thrives in her memory!
Goodness, and sorry! for above glitch. I don't know what happened. I have a pale lavender crepe myrtle planted two years ago and I needed to know how to trim it so it would be tall. Was given to me in memory of 12 year old Ginger, a sweet yellow lab mix who died because of that 'plastic poison' dog food. I do enjoy the varied colors of the crepes. Thanks for hub, and sorry for the glitch.
Hi Dolores, I agree with you. Love it also. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Peggy, I love crepe myrtles! Mine is pruned like a tree to expose that beautiful bark, one of my favorite things about crepe myrtles.
Hi katyzzz, Here's to crape myrtles lighting up our lives! Thanks for leaving your descriptive comment.
These are really lovely, beautiful trees, and obviously appeal to many, just like me. Their shapes are full and bountiful and their colours gentle and mild. They make me glad to be alive, not that I need a reason.
Hello Ashley Joy, Hopefully you will be able to grow them in your area. Have fun in your new home!
These are beautiful! I am finishing moving into my new home and we live right on the cusp of the south on the northern edge. I hope I can get some of these going once the construction crews are gone.
Hi Lisa HW, On about page 3 or 4 when I googled crape myrtles was a link having to do with growing crape myrtles in all 50 states, but it would not load. If you are seriously interested, I would consult a master gardener in your area and see if there are varieties that grow successfully in your colder climate. Hope this helps.
They are beautiful. I'd be interested in learning more about those that may do ok in colder climates. (I live up in "50-degrees-on-June-12-land".)
Hi dllhubpages, The nursery using the Natchez crape myrtle in front of their business is using the best of advertising methods. Bet they sell a bunch of them there. I also like them trimmed up as trees, but I admire them whereever they are when they are in full bloom as they are right now. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Great hub, crape myrtles are one of my very favorite shrubs. I like to use them them pruned as multi trunk trees. A local nursery where I live has a huge Natchez crape myrtle in the front of their business, it is the largest crape myrtle I have ever seen and it is beautiful when it is full of blooms.
Hi frogyfish, Your same comment copied 3 times so I only approved one of them. Not exactly sure what you meant by Iha but thanks, none-the-less. LOL
Iha
Hi AEvans, You may not have crape myrtles, but you have saguaro cactus; the Grand Canyon; Oak Creek Canyon and so much more. Need I go on? LOL
Hi Celesta, Happy to be of help regarding the correct pruning methods. Thanks for reading and commenting.
They are beautiful, I wish we had them in Arizona and if we do I certainly have not ran across any. I also love the Apple Blossom (sigh) if only we could see them everyday.:)
The crape myrtles are simply beautiful. I like them because the blooms last long. Thanks for the how to prune and trim crape myrtles correctly.
Hi Donna, Thanks for adding the bit about the autumn colors of the leaves. Forgot to mention that in my hub. I agree about the branches being very pretty...especially as they grow larger.
They are my favorite flowering tree. The leaves turn a pretty orange/red in the fall and even the intricate shaped branches are pretty when they are winter-bare.
Hello ohwhatfun, Hope this hub gave you some good ideas of just how to prune your crape myrtle. They really are pretty trimmed up to grow as trees. Maybe your azaleas and crape myrtle can happily co-exist. Thanks for leaving your comment.
Thanks for all the info. We have a crape myrtle against our house, but is it a big bushy shrub and it is killing my azaleas. I guess I have to do some serious pruning.
We thought the same, JamaGenee, when we moved from Wisconsin to Texas. Ah.......but the sweet smell of the lilacs was missed. These crape myrtles bloom longer, however.
I would've mistaken crape myrtles for lilacs! Thanks for such an in-depth explanation of a beautiful example of Mother Nature's gems!
Hi Melody, No......crape myrtles are entirely different from bougainvilleas. The latter are beautiful and grow as bushes, but not as trees. Also, the petals are larger than those found on crape myrtles. Hope this helps.
Nice! Are crape myrtles the same as bougainvillias? They look similar to me.
Hello RedElf,
I'll have to look up cloud shrubs as I am not familiar with them. These really DO remind me of lilacs (the blooms, at any rate.) Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
These are so beautiful - they look like some kind of heavenly mix of lilacs, rhodedendrons, and cloud shrubs - wish they would grow here! Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures, too.
Hi Ethel, Check under the name Lagerstroemia and see what pops up as to whether they can grow in your climate. With the heartier hybrid varieties being developed, who knows?
Hi Teresa, Yes, as they shed the flowers the ground becomes colored as well..........or a car if parked underneath. I agree with your assessment.....they ARE lovely. Thanks for the comment.
What a lovely plant. I don't suppose we have them in the UK with our mixed climate. Are they know by any other name I wonder?
They're lovely, aren't they? I used to park my car under a crape myrtle and loved to see it covered with the petals -- the sides of the street would be thick with the petals after a while.
Thanks kiran.
Another very attractive and interesting hub :) thanks a lot..
Peggy W Hub Author 4 weeks ago
Hi alocsin,
Everything here is also ahead of time with regard to blooming plants like the crape myrtles because this past winter flew by with very little in the way of normal winter temperatures. A few light frosts is all we got. Perhaps it is the same thing for where you live? Normally we have a little bit of freezing weather in Houston each winter. I never had to wear warm coat this past winter...just a few light jackets on occasion. Thus all the plants have been thrown off of their normal patterns with regard to blooming. Thanks for your comment and votes.