Crape myrtle how tall

There are two types of Crape Myrtle frequently planted; there is Lagerstroemia indica and Lagerstroemia hybrid indica x fauriei. The first species L. Powdery mildew must be sprayed with several fungicide applications OR you can plant the National Arboretum Hybrids which are totally resistant to powdery mildew. Donald Egolf of the National Arboretum beginning in He started a research project to develop disease resistance powdery mildew , hardiness because fauriei species was more frost tender that indica rebloomers, true flower color and unique inheritable dark trunk colors.

The hybrid crape is easily distinguished from the species as it has larger rectangle leaves, larger flowers and flower clusters and is totally resistant to powdery mildew — never spray fungicide again!

Severe pruning seems to attract these sucking insects. You could remove seed heads in the winter but this is how all the abuse started, because it was too time consuming to snip the tips and progressed into the crape murder we have come to recognize today. If you have trees that have been chopped down to shoulder or waist height, remove it for it will never be beautiful again.

Finally, you be the teacher and help educate those holding the chain saws and pruners to stop the horrible disfiguring of our beautiful sculptured trees and know, no pruning is necessary if the trees have never been pruned.

She moved to Houston the summer of and worked in the commercial green industry until She was the director for 11 years. Linda is first and foremost a gardener, constantly manipulating soils and putting new plants in the garden, always learning and growing. She has killed plants every which way you can and this experience has made me a plant expert.

After 6 months of retirement Linda was very fortuitous and landed in the coolest gardener's paradise, The Arbor Gate in Tomball, Texas. Much dead wood all over the tall unpruned bushes. No green in stem at all. A few errant leaves. If pruned lightly will they come back? My firecracker crepe myrtle has beautiful leaves but barely flowers…what gives?

Though I completely agree with your sentiments, I like the trees that are chopped once in adolescence to cause an offshoot of many branches. It has a nice, upright growth habit — plants can easily reach 30 feet in height in southern Louisiana. Tuscarora was introduced in and is characterized by coral pink flowers. It is less susceptible to powdery mildew and leaf spot than most varieties.

Flowering begins in late May and continues for 80 to 90 days. The trunk has mottled, light brown bark that exfoliates increasingly as the tree ages. This variety easily can reach heights of 25 feet in the landscape and has performed well in landscape plantings across Louisiana. Come to LaHouse in Baton Rouge to see our crape myrtles and sustainable landscape practices in action. Go online to Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods for additional information.

Editor: Mark Claesgens. Search Search. Your Name. Your Email Address. Recipient's E-Mail Address. Thank you! Your rating has been submitted. By choosing a suitably-sized variety for your location, you will eliminate the need for heavy pruning. With lovely violet flowers, this dwarf variety grows 12 to 18 inches tall and wide.

Excellent in mass plantings. Dwarf variety matures at 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. Panicles of crinkly, dark red blossoms and the green foliage turns red-orange in autumn. This series is available in Red, Pink, Lavender, and White.

They grow 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. Glossy green leaves emerge tinged with red and turn to dark green. They only grow 4 feet tall and wide. The leaves that emerge a copper-red, turn deep green in summer and a purple-red in fall. New growth of small wine-red leaves are followed by an abundance of ruby-red blooms. This variety produces no seed capsules. Mature size is only 6 to 8 feet in height and width.

Panicles of dark purple flowers and has the added benefit of beautiful bittersweet-orange fall foliage. Grows 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide. Gorgeous large cherry-red clusters of flowers appear from summer to frost.

Leathery leaves turn orange in the fall. Matures at 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide. Flawless black foliage emerges in spring followed by vibrant blooms of red, pink, purple, or white. Grows 10 to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Excellent as an accent plant. Bright pink flowers in summer contrast with the burgundy foliage. Leaves are thick and leathery turning orange in autumn.

Spikes of cherry-red flowers cover this upright, multi-stemmed shrub all summer. New leaves are crimson but quickly turn to dark green. Grows to 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide. Glossy green foliage creates the perfect canvas for the lavender-pink flowers. Brownish-gray exfoliating bark with red-orange fall color.