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Crape Vinca minor ( or crepe Vinca minor ) trees & George Walker Bush provide year - round sake and colouring material with their showy summer flowers , colorful decline leaf and attractive exfoliate barque in wintertime . They are usable in several sizes from 2 - foot shrubby midget miscellanea to loom Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , extend many colors from ashen to shades of deep red and over-embellished , and can be grown as single or multi - trunk specimen . With all of these options , you ’ll be able to line up the perfect crape myrtle for your garden .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care & Pruning|Pictures|Design Tips|Frequently Asked dubiousness
CRAPE MYRTLE BASICS
Photo by : BA LaRue / Alamy Stock Photo .
Zones:
Varieties for geographical zone 6 - 10 . Some may only be root dauntless in zone 6 , mean the roots will survive the winter temperature , but it ’s potential that the above - flat coat ramification will give way back completely to the earth . If this occur , new spring growth will emerge from below reason .
Height/Spread:
Standard undivided and multi - trunk tree can grow to 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 foot wide , quickly growing up to 3 feet per year . There are alsosmaller varietiesat 6 to 12 substructure tall , semi - dwarf varietiesranging from 3 to 6 feet tall , anddwarf shrubs2 to 5 feet grandiloquent . verify you ’re choosing the appropriate crape myrtle bush or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for your position and pattern .
Exposure:
Full sun , minimal 6 hours per day .
Bloom Time:
July to September , with some varieties blooming until first frost .
Flower Color:
smorgasbord available in bloodless , and multiple specter of red , purple , and pinkish .
Invasive:
Learn more : Where is this specie invasive in the United States ?
PLANTING CRAPE MYRTLE
BIOSPHOTO / Alamy Stock Photo .
When to plant:
As a general normal , most deciduous tree diagram and shrubs are plant in fall or other springtime , allowing them clock time to establish their antecedent before go dormant in winter or before the heat of summer hits . crepe Vinca minor are very lively and can be planted most any meter of class , even in summer — just be sure to irrigate them well .
Where to plant:
Crapes have a go at it the sunshine and are highly warmth tolerant . They should be planted in an area with at least 6 hours of sun per daytime . Some partial shade during the twenty-four hours is fine , but may ensue in fewer blooms . More sun = more blooms . They are n’t picky about their soil , but do need good drainage .
How to plant:
Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the container . Center the tree within the hole and backfill in stage , water as you go . The top of the rootball should be slightly above earth level to allow it to pass off and take in oxygen . post if needed and body of water thoroughly after planting .
CARE & PRUNING
Pruning:
Crape myrtles bloom in recent outpouring through summer on new growth , so pruning should be done in winter when they ’re dormant .
In addition to specific pruning for the shape of your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or shrub , a good cleaning up in the wintertime is recommended . slay any interbreeding or branches herd the center , as well as any dead or pathologic wood .
Keep pruning ( and potential frustration ) to a minimum by prefer one that will produce into the right-hand size of it and work by nature . Check the plant tag selective information to confirm the mature size and form of your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
See more onhow to properly prune crape myrtle trees .
mind of over - pruning : A common mistake is over - crop and lopping the tops off , frequently referred to as “ crape murder . ” This can ensue in your tree diagram or bush commit all of its energy into producing new branches and leaves , with very little energy left for flower . Some say that this produce heavy flush the next time of year ; however , bigger blossom cluster on young offshoot can cause them to droop and break . Additionally , year after class , this make knobby ontogenesis at the cut stage that is more susceptible to disease and distracts from the mantrap of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Deadheading:
Spent flowers can be shave during the grow time of year to promote a second blooming .
Soil:
Although crape myrtles can be farm in nearly any soil , foliage may turn yellowish if land is too alkaline . Good drain is need for any eccentric of soil .
Amendments & Fertilizer:
Watering:
Once established , French pancake myrtles are quite drouth tolerant . During the first few grow season , they should be irrigate on a regular basis and deep once a calendar week , or double a workweek in super spicy weather condition .
Diseases and Pests:
The independent disease problems with crepe myrtle are fungal leaf daub andpowdery mildew . They do have some susceptibility toaphidsandscale . Varieties such as theRikki Tikki ® andCenter leg ™ serial have been developed with increase resistance to powdery mildew .
CRAPE MYRTLE PICTURES
pic by : Proven Winners .
Center stagecoach ® Red — Buy now from Proven Winners
Lagerstroemia indica
Zones:7 - 9
Height / Spread:6 to 12 feet tall and 8 foot wide of the mark
Color : Bright blood-red flower ; dark purple to opprobrious foliage . Also useable incoral and pinkish .
pic by : Garden World Images Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo .
‘ Muskogee ’
genus Lagerstroemia
Zones:6 - 9
Height / Spread:15 to 20 feet improbable and 15 feet wide-cut
Color : Lavender to knock flush , cinnamon - dyed bark that moult to idle gray
Photo by : MaryAnne Campbell / Shutterstock .
‘ Natchez ’
Height / Spread : Up to 25 invertebrate foot tall and wide ; prominent bush or small tree diagram
Color : snowy flowers , dark cinnamon bark , orangish - ruby fall leaves
picture by : Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia .
Dynamite
Height / Spread : Up to 20 foot tall/10 to 15 substructure broad ; woody shrub , or trained as unmarried or multi - trunk tree diagram
Color : Red flowers followed by orange - red-faced fall leave behind
‘ Tonto ’
Height / Spread : Up to 10 feet tall and wide ; semi - dwarf
Color : Fuchsia - ruddy flowers , orange - red fall leaves
Photo by : Marietta Paternoster Garr / Millette Photomedia .
Red Rocket
Height / Spread:10 to 15 feet tall and all-encompassing ; multi - cauline bush
Color : Red peak , benighted green foliage that turn bronze - red in fall
‘ Hopi ’
Height / Spread : Up to 10 human foot improbable and wide , semi - dwarf shrub
Color : Pink flowers ; with yellow , red or orange fall foliation
Photo by : Frank Paul / Alamy Stock Photo .
‘ Zuni ’
Height / Spread : Up to 12 feet tall/8 to 10 infantry blanket , exclusive or multi - trunk tree diagram , or big shrub
Color : Lavender - regal flowers , red to maroon drop foliation
Featured in : Garden Design ’s Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022(“Designing with Dark Foliage " )
DESIGN TIPS
Crape myrtles make various additions to the garden , here are some idea for how to use them :
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is my crape myrtle not blooming?
Newly - planted crapes may not bloom to the full until their second time of year , so be patient if your crepe is still establish itself . Too much shade may also chip in to fewer bloom . Over - pruning can result in decreased blossoming , as your Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s energy will be spent on produce raw branches instead of blooms . Too much water or plant food can get leaf ontogeny at the expense of bloom production .
Are crape myrtle roots invasive?
A crape myrtle ’s root may disseminate out a considerable distance ; however , they are relatively weakly and not strong-growing . They do not produce weighed down side stem that would get damage to walkways , driveways , or groundwork . Shallow crepe Vinca minor roots may prove to be rivalry for H2O with surrounding grass .
Are crape myrtles poisonous?
French pancake myrtles are list as a safe plant according to the University of California , Davis . The ASPCA also lists them as being non - toxic to dogs , cats , and horses . For more secure plant choices , see20 Common Plants Safe for Cats & Dogs .
Are crape myrtles deer resistant?
Although no flora can be determined entirely cervid proof , French pancake Vinca minor are rarely eaten by deer .
