The Many Forms of Crape Myrtles

Blog by Michelle Krespi

Before moving to Solano County, I had never heard of, or laid eyes on a Crape Myrtle, but as I drove by many in my neighborhood, I was struck by their variety and vibrancy of colors. 

I loved them immediately and wanted one of my very own. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I had a Crape Myrtle on my property! Not only that, but it was a vibrant fuchsia color, my favorite! I learned more about them while attending Horticulture classes. I found it easy to recognize them once in full bloom, but it was not until I took classes that I discovered other, more subtle but easily recognizable features of this plant.

There are over fifty species of Lagerstroemia indica, deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs cultivated in warmer climates around the world. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus (a Swedish biologist and physician), who developed the plant naming system that is known today as binomial nomenclature.^[1] The plant is named after the Swedish merchant Magnus Von Lagerstrom, who was a director of the Swedish East India Company, who supplied Carl Linnaeus with the plants that he collected. The point of interest to me was the fact that this plant can be grown as either a shrub or a tree, depending on the right size, variety, and the space that you have available. If you are looking for a small Crape Myrtle, you will look for a miniature or dwarf variety. I suggest that before you decide, do your research. I have found that while research might describe an appropriate size for your garden, the reality can often be quite different, and in many cases, grow bigger than originally described!^[2] A solid piece of advice no matter what you decide on, is that the final mature appearance will mainly depend on your pruning and training.

 Your pruning can determine whether your Crape Myrtle is a tree or a shrub. The largest (in terms of actual size of plant) can grow between 25-30 feet tall and can live up to 100 years or more! 

It is easiest to identify a plant, tree, or shrub by the flowers it produces. In the case of Lagerstromia indica it has another defining characteristic- it has peeling bark, which is referred to as “bark shedding”. The first trees I saw were in the process of “bark. 

shedding.” A common mistake is to misdiagnose the shedding as a type of disease, when in fact, it is the normal process for adult trees. Crape myrtles are deciduous trees; therefore, they shed their leaves in winter, leaving behind beautifully colored wood, making it an eye-catching centerpiece in landscapes along with its bright yellow and deep red leaves. The peeling bark color ranges from cream to warm beige to cinnamon and then warm red.^[3] Below is a picture of the crape myrtle tree that grows in my yard!^[4]

Keep in mind that standard Crape Myrtles fall into the tree category. There are smaller or miniature varieties like dwarf Crape Myrtles, but to my surprise and delight.

They also grow as ultra-compact ground covers that are suitable for USDA zone 9b! These plants are called miniatures. I found two, Bijou Micro Mini- Lagerstroemia indica ‘Cordon Bleu', which grows to 2-3’ tall and wide with a mounding or weeping habit with delicate lavender/blue flowers, and the absolute lowest growing option, Crimson Bijou Micro Minis that come in pink, blue, or white!^[5] The white compact flowering ground covers are densely branched and have showy white flowers that bloom from late spring to fall, with dark green and brown foliage. A low-growing version named Lagerstomia ‘Pixie White’ is drought tolerant, heat tolerant, flowers from summer to fall, and is especially attractive to bees. It grows between 1’-2’ high and wide. They are very sturdy but are susceptible to fungal leaf spots and powdery mildew. Because of this, overhead watering is not recommended. Instead, a drip irrigation system would be optimal. This cultivar has good disease resistance.^[6]

I feel so lucky to be able to grow Lagerstromia indica in all its forms, colors, and varieties. From tall trees to compact ground covers, one is sure to find a variety that will complement your garden, especially if you are looking for a hardy way to introduce color into your garden!