Crape myrtle

Crape myrtle: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Small tree or large shrub, often multi-stemmed, 3–5 m tall and 3–4 m wide here, with an open, vase-shaped crown.

Bark

Smooth and greyish brown; it flakes off in small patches to reveal a mottled pattern of grey, pink and cinnamon.

Leaves

Oval, 3–7 cm, dark green, turning yellow, orange or red in autumn. Late to leaf out, often not until May.

Flowers

Panicles of 10–20 cm at the tips of new shoots, with frilly petals, from August to October.

Fruit

Small, round capsules that stay on the branches through winter.

Flowering: August–October · Plants: April–June · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Late flowering, from August to October, when most shrubs and trees have finished.
• Interest in every season: late-summer flowers, autumn colour and attractive flaking bark in winter.
• It flowers on the current year’s growth, so pruning in spring costs no flowers.
• Stays small enough for a town garden, a courtyard or a large container.
• The flowers attract bees late in the season, when few other flowers are around.

Crape myrtle: where does it grow best?

• Full sun and the warmest spot in the garden, ideally in front of a south-facing wall: without warmth it flowers poorly or not at all.
• Well-drained soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to neutral. On chalky soil the leaves may turn yellow.
• Sheltered from cold easterly winds.
• Normally moist soil; it does not tolerate waterlogging in winter.
• Allow 3–4 m of space; in a large container it stays smaller.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal

Size

5 m tall, 4 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Lavender: Sunny, drought-tolerant underplanting in purple.
• Russian sage: Blue spires in late summer; also loves sun and warmth.
• Ice plant: Flowers at the same time, from August to October, and also attracts bees.
• Fountain grass: Soft, bottlebrush-like plumes that go well with the flowers and autumn colour.

Crape myrtle: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–June.

1. Plant in April–June so that it can root in well before its first winter. Do not plant in autumn.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and loosen the bottom; mix heavy soil with some coarse sand and compost.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as it was in the pot and firm the soil well.
4. Water generously straight away, and weekly in dry spells during the first year.
5. Spread a layer of mulch around the base, but not against the trunk.
6. In a container: choose a large pot of at least 40–50 litres with good drainage.

Care

Watering

Regularly in dry spells in the first year. Later it tolerates some drought, but a very dry summer costs flowers. Water container plants regularly.

Feeding

In April–May, some compost or organic fertiliser for flowering shrubs. Not too much nitrogen: that gives leaves instead of flowers.

Mulching

A layer of compost or wood chips in spring keeps the soil moist and protects the roots in winter.

Late leafing

It leafs out late, often not until May: do not worry, and do not cut off branches that look dead too early.

Containers

In a container, repot every 2–3 years or replace the top layer of compost.

Tip: Plant it in front of a sunny south-facing wall or in a warm courtyard: the extra warmth makes the difference between a few flowers and a mass of them. Ideally choose a variety known for its resistance to powdery mildew.

Crape myrtle: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, before it comes into leaf. It flowers on the current year’s wood.

How:

• Cut last year’s shoots back to a few buds: this gives strong shoots with large flower panicles.
• Remove thin, crossing and inward-growing branches to keep the crown open.
• Cut frost damage back to healthy wood as soon as you can see where it is shooting.
• For a tree shape, gradually remove the lower side branches and the shoots at the base.
• You can leave the faded panicles until March: the fruits look good in winter.

Caution: Do not saw the main branches off at the same height every year: that causes ugly knuckles and weak shoots. Prune only the young shoots, and not in summer or autumn: that costs flowers and makes young wood more sensitive to frost.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Softwood cuttings

In June–July, take 10 cm cuttings from young, non-flowering shoots. Remove the lower leaves and insert them in moist cutting compost under plastic in a warm spot. Roots form in a few weeks; keep them frost-free in their first winter.

Seed

Possible, but seedlings take several years to flower and do not always resemble the parent.

Crape myrtle: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −15 °C: protect young plants.

• Hardy to about −15 °C once well established; young plants and shoot tips are more sensitive.
• Protect young plants in their first winters with a thick mulch around the base and, in severe frost, fleece over the crown.
• In a container: stand it against a sheltered wall and wrap the pot, or overwinter it in a cool, frost-free place.
• Cut frosted shoots back in March–April; the plant usually reshoots from the older wood.

Diseases and pests

• Powdery mildew: White powder on leaves and flower buds, especially in dry weather with cool nights. Choose a sunny, airy spot, water in dry spells and cut off badly affected tips.
• No flowers: After a cool summer or in too much shade it flowers little or not at all. Give it the warmest spot, prune in March and do not overdo the nitrogen.
• Aphids: On young shoots in summer, sometimes with sticky honeydew. Ladybirds usually deal with them; otherwise hose them off.
• Frost damage: Dead shoot tips after a hard winter. Wait until it comes into leaf, then cut back to healthy wood.
• Yellow leaves: On chalky or wet soil. Add acid compost and improve the drainage.

Through the year

• February: Protect young plants in severe frost.
• March: Prune: cut last year’s shoots back to a few buds. Mulch.
• April: Plant. Apply compost or fertiliser. Cut back frosted shoots.
• May: Plant. Late to leaf out: be patient. Water container plants.
• June: Plant. Take softwood cuttings. Water in dry spells.
• July: Water in dry spells. Watch for powdery mildew and aphids.
• August: First flowers. Water in dry spells.
• September: Full flower. Bees on the flowers.
• October: Last flowers. Autumn colour.
• November: Mulch around the base. Protect containers.
• December: Dormant. The flaking bark and the fruits decorate the garden.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The genus is named after Magnus von Lagerström, a merchant of the Swedish East India Company and a friend of Linnaeus, to whom he supplied plants from Asia.
• The flowers have two kinds of stamens: many short yellow ones in the centre that attract bees, and six long ones around the edge that provide the pollen for pollination.
• The name crape myrtle refers to the frilly petals, which look like crêpe paper.