Are crape myrtles low maintenance?
Crape myrtle is a relatively low-maintenance choice for landscaping in the appropriate region, but they do require some specific care for their showy blooms to flourish. To help your crape myrtle look its very best… Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive.
One of the disadvantages of crape myrtles shows up when conditions are damp and humid: powdery mildew. A fungal disease, it appears as white powdery spots on the leaves and stems. The lower leaves are usually the most affected, but powdery mildew can appear on any part of the tree.
The site should be in the bright, hot sun: full or partial sun (6hrs min). No heavy shade for Crape Myrtles. If the site gets sun for part of the day then it's fine. But they do best in Full, Hot Sun.
The crepe myrtle root system will not harm your foundation. The crepe myrtle root system can extend a considerable distance, but the roots are not aggressive. The roots are relatively weak and will not insert themselves into nearby foundations, sidewalks or endanger nearly plants.
The common crape myrtle can reach a height of 15–25' and a spread of 6–15' at maturity. With ideal planting conditions this shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24" per year.
*All Crape Myrtles have non-invasive roots. You can plant them next to a sidewalk, foundation and even a pool. They will not harm structures in any way.
Crepe myrtles have a lifespan of around 25 years. However, some crepe myrtles have been known to live for 100 years or more! This tree does best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Crape myrtle is a relatively low-maintenance choice for landscaping in the appropriate region, but they do require some specific care for their showy blooms to flourish. To help your crape myrtle look its very best… Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive.
Crape myrtle do not have invasive root systems, which may be one reason they are used as sidewalk margin trees. They don't lift the sidewalks as so many other trees do. And their beautiful fall color is another reward.
Crepe myrtle likes a medium amount of water and prefers consistently moist soils where it can get it. However, once established, it is quite drought-tolerant and will subsist on a deep watering – to a depth of 6 inches or so – once or twice per month, reports Wilson Brothers Gardens.
Why do people not like crepe myrtles?
One of the main reasons people don't plant Crape Myrtles is because they can bring pests, especially spiders, into your yard. Southern Living explains: “As soon as crepe myrtle leaves unfurl, look for aphids. Their sugary excretions causes sooty mold.
One issue with crape myrtles is they easily reseed themselves. Many non-native species that reproduce prolifically like crape myrtles are oftentimes considered invasive. If left unchecked, these plants can outcompete native species, tipping the balance of nature in an unfavorable position.
The crape myrtle flowers also attract and provide nectar and pollen to many important pollinating bees. Crape myrtle and its aphids attract these beneficial parasites and predators to crape myrtle and other plants in the surrounding area. The large numbers of aphids encourage the beneficials to remain in the area.
- Red: Petite Red Imp, Petite Red Embers.
- Pink: Petite Pinkie, Pokemoke.
- Lavender: Petite Orchid.
- Purple: Petite Plum, Centennial, Velma's Royal Delight.
- White: Petite Snow.
Your crepe myrtle may not be blooming if it is only a young tree – it can take 3-5 years for a tree to become established enough to flower. This may sound like a long time, but bear in mind that the trees take 5-10 years to mature, and 20-50 years to reach their ultimate size.
Commonly called the “lilac of the South,” the spelling of this tree is a litmus test of geographic origins. Crepe myrtle is the most commonly accepted “southern” spelling; north of some unspecified crepe-myrtle line, it becomes crape myrtle.
The best time to plant crape myrtle is June to late September while soils are warm. Watering during summer hot and dry spells is also beneficial to flowering, but overall crape myrtle is very drought tolerant once established in the landscape.
Some plants perform best when the heat is on; Crape Myrtles revel in the sun and heat. They are summer show-offs. In full bloom this beautiful shrub/tree radiates color, sporting a full head of crinkled, “crepe” like blooms in various shades, and there are more talents to this tree.
The crepe myrtle bush has smaller leaves and a smaller crown spread but does have a more diverse flower color range than the crepe myrtle tree. In addition to these differences, the crepe myrtle bush is much hardier compared to the crepe myrtle tree.
But crepe myrtles are messy trees. What is up must come down, and those blooms will end up all over your driveway and whatever is parked on it for many weeks. Forget keeping it clean.
Do crepe myrtles lose all their leaves in winter?
The foliage on some crape myrtles changes color in fall, and all crape myrtles are deciduous, so will lose their leaves through winter.
Thinning of limbs every few years will encourage new growth and blooming but remember to prune only limbs that are less than a pencils' width in diameter. While the trees are young, the tips of the small limbs can be pruned off (again only those a pencil width diameter or less).
Do they attract birds? Yes, Twighlight Crape Myrtle trees attract hummingbirds as well as pollinators like butterflies and bees.
Crape myrtle and wax myrtle differ slightly in soil and other needs. Wax myrtle grows in sun to partial shade, while crape myrtle requires full sun to ensure flowering.
Flowering trees
For example, crepe (or crape) myrtles aren't great around pool decks and patios because they bloom in summertime and create a mess when your family is using the pool. If you want a flowering tree, go for a species that blooms in spring.
This shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24" per year.
If you are planting a screen of Crape Myrtles, space the plants according to how tall they will become. If they will grow over 20 feet tall, allow six to eight feet between each plant. For smaller plants allow four to six feet and if you are planting a low hedge of very small varieties, allow two to three feet.
If you can't put a Crape in full sun, plant something else. Keep the area under the canopy free of turfgrass. Turf is a wonderful feature in lawns, just not directly under crape myrtles. Grass does an excellent job of scavenging nutrients and water that otherwise would benefit the crape myrtle above.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)
But only one species myrtle has truly fragrant flowers—the Japanese type (Lagerstroemia fauriei). This 8-to-40-foot plant (15 to 25 feet wide) is suited to zones 7 to 9.
When buying a Crepe Myrtle, do not buy on an impulse. As beautiful as they are, the Crepe Myrtle needs a good fit for it to flourish. Always make sure to research what size you are looking for and the right color. Their sizes differ and can range anywhere from 3-30 feet tall.
Why are crepe myrtles so popular?
Crepe myrtles are a popular choice in southern landscaping because of their long-term profusion of color. Depending on the species, they begin blooming in late spring/early summer and can last until the first frost.
You may also notice a lot of ants and wasps around your crape myrtle, as these will feed on the aphids if the infestation is large enough to attract them.
Crape Myrtles are gorgeous, have tons of blooms, bloom for months, and are colorful so they attract butterflies.
A: Crape myrtles are commonly afflicted with aphids in the fall. These insects suck sap from leaves and then excrete a sweet honeydew that ants like. I am a big fan of using baits to control ants in your home.
The Catawba, the Pink Velour and the Black Diamond series are perfect for a small yard or when you are looking for a tree hedge or border. When you are looking for a showy, focal tree, look to the larger crape myrtle varieties like the Dynamite, purple Muskogee, Natchez, and the cold hardy Red Rocket.
The experts at Florida's Crape Myrtle Company (opens in new tab) say: '"Basham's Party Pink' is the fastest-growing crepe myrtle tree we have ever seen. It is not unusual for 'Basham's Party Pink' to grow 12 to 15 feet per year!
Tonto Hardy Crape Myrtle Plant. Tougher than its Southern cousin, Tonto Hardy Crape Myrtle Tree tolerates subzero temperatures. Like other crape myrtles, this deciduous shrub provides months of interest in the landscape.
The lovely, long-lasting blooms make them attractive. Most years, crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June. Flowering continues for 90-120 days depending on the variety. You may sometimes see crape myrtles not blooming well.
The crepe myrtle in winter will have no leaves. They are deciduous shrubs, so their leaves change color and eventually die and fall off in autumn.
– Do Crepe Myrtles Require Epsom Salt? These trees do not require Epsom salt for their growth or development. However, adding Epsom salt to the soil around your plant can help promote blooming and increase the tree's overall health.
Is a crepe myrtle a messy tree?
But crepe myrtles are messy trees. What is up must come down, and those blooms will end up all over your driveway and whatever is parked on it for many weeks. Forget keeping it clean.
Crape myrtles are wildly popular in the South for good reason. They bloom in the summer, when there are few other trees and shrubs providing that service. The larger varieties grow rather quickly, providing a bit of shade in addition to the seasonal color.
Your crepe myrtle may not be blooming if it is only a young tree – it can take 3-5 years for a tree to become established enough to flower. This may sound like a long time, but bear in mind that the trees take 5-10 years to mature, and 20-50 years to reach their ultimate size.
In general, the spelling “crape myrtle” is more common in North America, while “crepe myrtle” is more common in Europe. In the Southern US, however, we love to do things our own way from the rest of the United States.
Be Aware Of Issues Facing Crape Myrtles
One of the main reasons people don't plant Crape Myrtles is because they can bring pests, especially spiders, into your yard. Southern Living explains: “As soon as crepe myrtle leaves unfurl, look for aphids. Their sugary excretions causes sooty mold.
Crape myrtle do not have invasive root systems, which may be one reason they are used as sidewalk margin trees. They don't lift the sidewalks as so many other trees do. And their beautiful fall color is another reward.
