How to Grow a Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

The Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) is a small tree that fills itself with red, pink, white or lavender flowers in the springtime, maintains a handsome form through the summer, blazes into autumnal color and shows off its handsome peeling, striated bark in the winter. The Crepe Myrtle is one of the showiest and most versatile small trees you can grow in the garden. Here is some information on how to grow a Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) in your garden.

Instructions

1. 

   Plant your Crepe Myrtle in full sun. It isn't fussy about soil and will tolerate lean soils that many other small trees would not accept. If happy it will grow from twelve to twenty feet tall.

2. The Lagerstroemia does not grow well in high humidity, too much water, bad drainage or a lot of shade. These are all likely to cause mildew on leaves and flowers.

3. 

   The Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) can handle cold temperatures down to 0' Fahrenheit and grows well in zones 6 - 10. Surface watering will not be enough to sustain this tree. If you live in a low rainfall area and plant your Crepe Myrtle in a lawn, make sure you give it an additional slow, deep watering at least once a week in the summer so the water penetrates to the lower part of the root system.

4. Use the Crepe Myrtle in limited spaces where you can show off its smaller size. Or use the attractive shape as a focal point in a well-planned landscape. The Lagerstroemia makes a fine choice for an ornamental tree in the front of the house.

5. 

   An easy to care for plant, this tree needs no more than a trimming when any branches grow awry or die off. Ornamental and low maintenance, you can grow a Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) in your garden as either a small, handsomely shaped tree or as a full-flowering shrub.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide
• Landscape design and gardening information
• Parks Crepe Myrtles