Crape Myrtle: Summertime Blooming Flowers

For a larger garden area, you can plant a deciduous shrub such as Lagerstroemia indica. The special feature of Lagerstroemia indica that draws gardeners across the world to it is that it blooms in the summer when most other plants do not. Therefore, it can add a pop of colour to an otherwise dull garden during the summer. As a beginner, the following is what you must know before planting Lagerstroemia indica in your home garden.

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Crape Myrtle: Key facts

Genus: Lagerstroemia

Species: Indica

Family: Lythraceae

Country or region of origin: Central Himalayas, South China, Indo-China and the Philippines

Required light for Lagerstroemia indica: Lagerstroemia indica requires full sun, which means six or more hours of direct sunlight every day.

Required soil texture for Lagerstroemia indica: Lagerstroemia indica grows well in soil rich in clay and high organic matter.

Required soil pH for Lagerstroemia indica: Lagerstroemia indica grows well in alkaline soil that has a pH level > 8.0.

Required soil drainage for Lagerstroemia indica: requires soil that has good drainage and remains moist.

Fruit colour: Brown or copper

Harvest time of fruit: Fall, Summer, Winter

Fruit type: Capsule

Flower colour: Gold or Yellow, Pink, Purple or Lavender, Red or Burgundy, White

Flower bloom time: Fall, Spring, Summer

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Varieties of Crape Myrtle

There are several varieties of Lagerstroemia indica that you can choose from to plant in your home garden. These varieties include Lagerstroemia Faurie, Lagerstroemia Subcostata and Lagerstroemia Limii.

Lagerstroemia Faurie, commonly known as the Japanese Crape Myrtle, is more tree-like than the Common Crape Myrtle. It blooms with white flowers, with just a few plants showing a slight pink flush in flower.

Lagerstroemia Subcostata, commonly known as the Chinese Crape Myrtle, is a shrub or small tree. Its noticeable feature is its bark which is a brilliant burnt orange. It blooms with white flowers that have significant purple and pink flowers.

Finally, Lagerstroemia Limii is a small multi-stem tree growing to around 12 feet and found in hilly areas of China. The flowers of Lagerstroemia Limii are a reddish pink colour.

Identifying features of Lagerstroemia indica

The most noticeable features of a Lagerstroemia indica shrub are its bark and flowers. The shrub itself develops several trunks. However, these trunks can be pruned into a single stem that helps streamline the growth of the plant. The colour of the bark depends on the variant of the Lagerstroemia Indica shrub, which can range from grey to cinnamon and soft pink. The shrub is bushy, but some variants grow to be tree-like.

The flowers of the Crape Myrtle shrub bloom in clusters that appear in the summer. The petals of the flowers are textured like crinkled paper that blooms in various shades from white to pink and red, and lilacs and purples.

How much space does a Lagerstroemia indica shrub require?

A Lagerstroemia Indica plant requires substantial space because as the plant grows, it requires an average height that ranges from 8 ft – 40 ft and a width of 15 ft – 25 ft. Therefore, it is important to provide the plant with enough space to grow as you are planting it. However, if you want the shrub to remain smaller, it is important to keep pruning it as it grows.

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Planting tips for Lagerstroemia indica

You will need to provide Lagerstroemia indica with full sun to thrive. Thus, you should place the plant in a spot in your landscape that gets at least six hours of sun a day. The soil must be well-draining, and although the plant prefers neutral or slightly acidic soil over alkaline soil, it is not much of a hassle.

The Crape Myrtle needs water often, especially if the soil is not moist. Therefore, it is essential to water the plant regularly based on the rain patterns of the geographical location you live in. You also need to either fertilise your Crape Myrtle very lightly or avoid it completely.

See Also:How to grow and care for Violet flowers?

Maintenance tips for Lagerstroemia indica

Pruning is central to the growth of Lagerstroemia indica to ensure the growth of new shoots as it stimulates 2nd and 3rd waves of flowering. Crape Myrtle is highly susceptible to powdery mildew, sooty mould, and other fungal infections. For these infections, instead of curing them, the best option is to prevent them by not watering the foliage and focusing the water on the roots.

Lagerstroemia Indica: The stunning crape myrtle tree

A blooming Lagerstroemia Indica tree. This tree is also known as Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle and Crepe Flower.

Landscaping with Lagerstroemia Indica for year-round color

Red and white Crepe Myrtle trees on residential neighborhood street. Crepe Myrtle trees are chiefly known for their colorful and long-lasting flowers which occur in summer.