Should you’re in search of a small tree that fills your panorama with stunning flowers and an beautiful form, a crape myrtle may do the trick. These crops have tall, slender vans lined with easy bark, full foliage that creates shade, and long-blooming flowers. Though all crape myrtles seem related, there are variations in chilly hardiness, top, and flower shade. Maintain studying to find out about 13 of the preferred kinds of crape myrtle.
13 Gorgeous Kinds of Crape Myrtle:
Don’t know what sort of crape myrtle you need to plant? Take a look at these 13 stunning kinds of crape myrtle!
Fuchsia d’Été Crape Myrtle
This brilliant pink selection is an unique selection from Indiya Charms in France. The title ‘Fuchsia d’Été’ interprets into fuchsia summer season, which alludes to the plant’s brilliant pink flowers that bloom within the early summer season.
The crops are recognized for shoots that seem purple when they’re younger. This coloration, coupled with easy bark, means the crops are attractive.
‘Fuchsia d’Été’ has brilliant pink flowers that seem in dense clusters. These flowers begin blooming within the late spring or early summer season and proceed blooming for a number of months.
| Scientific Identify | Lagerstroemia indica ‘Fuchsia d’Été’ ® INDYFUS |
| Rising Zones | 7–9 |
| Flowering Season | Late spring by way of midsummer |
| Mild Necessities | Full solar |
| Mature Peak | 10–15 toes |
Rhapsody in Pink® Crape Myrtle
This number of crape myrtle is formally referred to as ‘Whit VIII,’ however it usually goes by the title Rhapsody in Pink®. Its scientific title refers back to the well-known crape myrtle breeder Dr. Carl Whitcomb.
Its leaves can vary in shade from deep inexperienced to wealthy maroon to darkish purple. This foliage contrasts in opposition to gentle pink flowers with frilly petals and yellow stamens.
These flowers begin blooming in the midst of summer season and might typically proceed till the primary frost arrives. This selection is a part of Dr. Whitcomb’s Play it Once more® assortment, which suggests the flowers rebloom on the identical panicle.
Dynamite® Crape Myrtle
Dynamite® is one other selection that comes from Dr. Whitcomb. It was the primary true purple number of crape myrtle to exist, and it stays in style as we speak.
Plenty of direct daylight is essential to the event of brilliant crimson flowers. Should you plant this selection in partial shade, the flowers will doubtless seem light.
Like most crape myrtles, Dynamite® has enticing easy bark that peels over time. Meaning it supplies curiosity within the backyard even throughout the winter.
Double Dynamite® Crape Myrtle
One other member of the Play it Once more® collection, this selection continues to rebloom on the identical flower cluster. The result’s an ongoing show of fiery purple flowers—individuals report the flowers bloom for over 100 days!
The ruffled flowers emerge gentle pink and darken to brilliant purple. New vegetative progress seems darkish purple.
This selection is particularly warmth tolerant, which makes it a good selection for the South.
| Scientific Identify | Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit X’ |
| Rising Zones | 7–10 |
| Flowering Season | Summer season |
| Mild Necessities | Full solar |
| Mature Peak | 8–10 toes |
Natchez Crape Myrtle
The Natchez crape myrtle has giant white flowers that usually bloom over three to 4 months. When the flowers drop within the fall, you’ll be able to get pleasure from watching the plant’s leaves flip from darkish inexperienced to brilliant orange.
The bark turns a fantastic cinnamon purple and peels every summer season to disclose contemporary dusky tan bark.
This selection additionally grows fairly quickly (3–5 toes per 12 months), so it’s a good selection in case you’re trying to shortly add shade to an space.
Crimson Rocket Crape Myrtle
Should you’re in search of fast-growing kinds of crape myrtle, give Crimson Rocket a strive! This selection can develop greater than 5 toes every year, so it may attain its last top in only a handful of years.
This cultivar can be a long-bloomer. It usually begins producing deep purple flowers in mid-summer and continues blooming into the early fall.
It’s additionally recognized for being comparatively drought-tolerant and also can deal with colder temperatures than another crape myrtle varieties.
Pink Velour Crape Myrtle
The Pink Velour crape myrtle is a small selection that maxes out at about ten toes tall. Nonetheless, it packs plenty of magnificence into this small bundle!
It has brilliant pink flowers that usually bloom from July by way of September. However what actually units it aside are its leaves—they begin out maroon after which change to a deep greenish/purple.
Purple Magic Crape Myrtle
One other crape myrtle that works in small areas is ‘Purple Magic.’ It produces ruffled and wrinkled brilliant purple flowers and has leaves that change from purple to inexperienced to yellow.
The primary flowers seem within the late spring. And in case you take away the flowers as soon as they die, the plant can ship out a second flush of flowers within the early fall!
Like most crape myrtle, it’s going to develop finest in full solar.
| Scientific Identify | Lagerstroemia indica ‘Purple Magic’ |
| Rising Zones | 7–9 |
| Flowering Season | Early summer season, potential second flowering in early fall |
| Mild Necessities | Full solar |
| Mature Peak | 6–10 toes |
Plum Magic Crape Myrtle
New leaves emerge deep pink or purple and alter to darkish inexperienced because it ages. Plum Magic produces fuchsia flowers that distinction in opposition to the plant’s foliage.
As a member of the ‘Magic’ crape myrtle collection, this selection is reasonably immune to leaf spot and powdery mildew. You need to plant it in full solar to forestall illness and permit it to thrive.
| Scientific Identify | Lagerstroemia indica ‘Plum Magic’ |
| Rising Zones | 7–9 |
| Flowering Season | Summer season |
| Mild Necessities | Full solar |
| Mature Peak | 12–14 toes |
Queen’s Crape Myrtle
Whereas most crape myrtles grown in the US are some variation of the species Lagerstroemia indica, Queen’s crape myrtle is a wholly totally different species. It is usually referred to as the pleasure of India and big crape myrtle.
Because it’s a unique species, it’s much less cold-hardy than the frequent Lagerstroemia indica. Whereas it’s not often grown in the US, it grows all through elements of Asia and Australia.
The flower shade varies relying on the precise plant, however blooms are sometimes some variation of pink or purple.
| Scientific Identify | Lagerstroemia speciosa |
| Rising Zones | 10b–11b |
| Flowering Season | Summer season |
| Mild Necessities | Full solar |
| Mature Peak | 40–50 toes |
Tuscarora Crape Myrtle
The Tuscarora crape myrtle provides a shocking show of darkish pink blooms that seem on an umbrella-shaped plant.
Together with its attractive flowers, it additionally has enticing foliage. The leaves begin out a deep vibrant inexperienced earlier than remodeling to a fiery darkish orange within the fall.
The slender branching trunks are lined with a shocking bark that’s mottled with shades of reddish-brown, tan, and grey.
Black Diamond™ Purely Purple® Crape Myrtle
The Black Diamond™ line of crape myrtles is understood for darkish reddish/purple foliage that nearly seems black. This deep shade is current as quickly as leaves emerge and stays because the foliage ages.
This selection has brilliant purple flowers that bloom from June all through October! Meaning it supplies a long-lasting show of shade together with its darkish leaves.
Together with being stunning, Black Diamond™ Purely Purple® also can tolerate drought, intense warmth, and a few kinds of frequent illnesses.
Pocomoke Crape Myrtle
Whereas many individuals consider crape myrtles as small timber or giant shrubs, yow will discover true dwarf varieties like ‘Pocomoke.’ This small crape myrtle solely grows as much as 5 toes tall and large, so you’ll be able to tuck it in entrance of homes and in smaller backyard beds.
‘Pocomoke’ has deep pink flowers that bloom throughout the summer season. These flowers are set in opposition to leaves that emerge purple and alter to darkish inexperienced.
This selection’s small measurement means that you may plant particular person shrubs or clump a number of crops collectively to type a flowering hedgerow.
Important Ideas for Rising Crape Myrtle
Irrespective of which kind you select to develop, you need to maintain a couple of suggestions in thoughts to efficiently develop and take care of crape myrtles.
Select the Proper Surroundings
The overwhelming majority of crape myrtles require heat environments and loads of daylight. These crops can not often survive temperatures under 0°F, which explains why they’re in style within the South however not the Mountain West.
Verify the Soil
Whereas crepe myrtles can survive in all kinds of soil varieties, they don’t like sitting in moist soil. Due to this fact, you need to keep away from planting them in low-lying areas and be certain that the soil is well-draining.
Loosening the soil with a digging fork and including sand or compost may also help enhance drainage.
The soil pH also needs to be barely acidic. Verify to see if it falls within the vary of 6.0-7.0, and amend if mandatory. Sulfur can decrease pH, whereas lime can elevate pH.
Prune the Proper Approach
Many kinds of crape myrtle will solely produce flowers on new wooden. Pruning may also help encourage these crops to supply new progress and, subsequently, flowers.
Nonetheless, you need to keep away from utterly topping your crape myrtle. Whereas individuals proceed to make use of this apply, scaling down branches and eradicating a couple of inches from the tops of branches is the precise approach to prune.
Intention to prune within the late winter simply earlier than the plan begins to renew progress. And don’t overlook to make use of sharp and sanitized pruning instruments to forestall the unfold of illness.
Keep away from Overwatering
Basically, crape myrtles can tolerate a good bit of drought. Nonetheless, they hate sitting in moist soil.
After you plant your crape myrtle, maintain the soil comparatively moist for the primary few months—this will likely imply watering a couple of times every week. As soon as crops grow to be established, water solely when the soil is dry.
Kinds of Crape Myrtle FAQs:
The place Do Crepe Myrtles Develop Greatest?
Most kinds of crepe myrtles, aka crape myrtles, develop finest in full solar and heat environments. Plant them in zones 6–10 in an space that receives at the very least six hours of direct gentle each day.
Is there a Distinction Between a Crepe Myrtle Bush and Tree?
Crape myrtles varieties max out all kinds of heights. Some develop as giant bushes, whereas others develop as small timber. Each require related environments and care.
How Large Does a Crepe Myrtle Develop?
It relies on the range. Some crepe myrtles solely attain 5 toes tall, whereas others can develop as much as 50 toes tall.
Can a Crepe Myrtle Be Saved Small?
When you can prune a crepe myrtle to restrict its measurement, you need to select a spread that may max out on the measurement you’re in search of. This may can help you get pleasure from a wholesome plant in its full type.
Do Crepe Myrtles Lose All Their Leaves in Winter?
Sure, crepe myrtles lose all their leaves within the winter. They are going to start to regrow new leaves the next spring.
Wrapping Up
Now that you understand among the most stunning kinds of crape myrtle, all that’s left to do is select which one(s) you’d prefer to develop. Bear in mind to plant your crepe myrtle in a heat space and supply it with full solar.
For extra, see our in-depth information to the that means and symbolism of myrtle flowers.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State College. She manages a small market backyard the place she grows greens and herbs. She additionally enjoys rising flowers and houseplants at residence.
