Crape myrtles are stunning, low-maintenance decorative shrubs ceaselessly used as landscaping vegetation. Earlier than including a crape myrtle to your backyard, it’s a good suggestion to think about how huge it might get. On this article, we’ll focus on the peak and measurement of crape myrtles.
How Tall and Vast Do Crape Myrtles Develop?
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) are deciduous shrubs or small bushes that produce a number of trunks. These vegetation are native to tropical and subtropical climates in Asia, Australia, and the Indian Subcontinent. Crape myrtles are additionally naturalized in america and are sometimes utilized in Southern landscaping.
Crape myrtles can develop between 10 and 30 ft tall and roughly 6 to twenty ft broad. Nonetheless, dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars are additionally obtainable for smaller plots. These varieties develop between 2 and 6 ft tall and about 4 to six ft broad.
If crape myrtles get too massive for a selected house, they are often stored in verify by pruning. Nonetheless, drastically slicing crape myrtles again to a collection of stumps severely damages the plant. That is typically often known as “crape homicide”.
Crape myrtles solely want mild pruning in late winter or early spring earlier than new progress emerges. Dwarf and semi-dwarf crape myrtles hardly ever want pruning as they keep compact and manageable. These varieties are perfect when you’ve got a small house.
How Rapidly Do Crape Myrtles Develop?
Crape myrtles are classed as fast-growing shrubs and bushes. Typically, crape myrtles can produce 2 to three ft of recent progress yearly. Resulting from their quick progress fee, crape myrtles attain full maturity inside 5 to 10 years. Crape myrtle bushes dwell for roughly 25 years, though some specimens have reportedly reached 100 years previous.
How A lot House Does A Crape Myrtle Want?
Crape myrtles are ceaselessly used as landscaping vegetation, particularly for options like driveways and sidewalks. Some crape myrtles can develop as much as 30 ft excessive and 20 ft broad, so giving them house is crucial.
A crape myrtle’s precise house depends upon its anticipated mature peak. Earlier than selecting a crape myrtle, consider whether or not your backyard or out of doors house can accommodate the plant’s mature measurement.
Dwarf and semi-dwarf crape myrtles want roughly 18 inches to 10 ft of house, relying on how you employ them. Plant these varieties at the very least 3 ft away from a home.
Many crape myrtles develop as medium-sized shrubs or bushes. Give crape myrtle shrubs roughly 6 to 10 ft of house away from different vegetation. Plant smaller crape myrtle bushes roughly 8 to 12 ft aside.
For big crape myrtles anticipated to achieve as much as 30 ft excessive, present roughly 15 ft of house between every plant. Situate crape myrtle shrubs and bushes at the very least 6 ft away from a home.
The place to Plant Crape Myrtles
Crape myrtles develop finest in USDA Zones 6 to 9, particularly within the Southern United States. Nonetheless, crape myrtles also can tolerate winter temperatures as little as -5ºF. Crape myrtles want a sheltered location that protects the flower buds from robust, chilly winds.
Most crape myrtles can survive winter temperatures as little as -5ºF. In colder climates, develop crape myrtles in containers and defend them by wrapping them in fleece or bringing them indoors.
Find out how to Care For Crape Myrtle
Daylight Necessities
Crape myrtles want at the very least six hours of full solar daily. The morning solar is preferable to direct afternoon daylight, which is extra intense. South or west-facing areas present crape myrtles with the perfect quantity of daylight.
Soil Situations
Crape myrtles thrive in well-draining, nutrient-poor soils that retain some moisture. Crape myrtles favor barely acidic soils with pH ranges between 5.0 and 6.5, though impartial soils will probably be effective.
Watering
Water established crape myrtles each two weeks or so to maintain the soil moist and extra ceaselessly in scorching, dry situations. Water newly planted crape myrtles a few times per week for the primary couple of years. This helps the plant set up root system.
Fertilizer
Feed older crape myrtles as soon as in the course of the spring with a slow-release fertilizer. This supplies loads of vitamins for the event of recent leaves and flowers. Fertilize newly planted crape myrtles as soon as a month throughout their first rising season.
Pruning & Trimming
Crape myrtles range in measurement, impacting how typically you need to prune them. Dwarf varieties gained’t want a lot pruning as a result of they solely develop between 2 and 6 ft tall. Nonetheless, some varieties of crape myrtle develop as shrubs or small bushes that attain roughly 30 ft tall and 15 ft broad.
Quite than pruning too typically, assess your backyard first and decide what kind of crape myrtle you’ll be able to accommodate. Select a crape myrtle that stays at a manageable measurement in your house. This lets you cut back the pruning you’ll have to do.
Crape Myrtle Top and Dimension FAQs
Is Crape Myrtle a Bush or a Tree?
Crape myrtles can develop as bushes, shrubs, or small bushes. They work finest when grown as small bushes that attain roughly 10 to 30 ft excessive.
The place is the Greatest Place to Plant Crape Myrtles?
A sheltered, sunny location with well-draining soil in Zones 6 to 9 is the perfect place to plant crape myrtles. They like areas with barely acidic, nutrient-poor soils and 6 hours of full solar day by day.
Do Crape Myrtles Have Invasive Roots?
Crape myrtles don’t have invasive roots, which explains why they’re common landscaping bushes for sidewalks. The roots shouldn’t undermine homes or outbuildings.
Crape Myrtle Top and Dimension Concerns: Wrapping Up
Crape myrtles often develop between 10 and 30 ft excessive and roughly 6 to twenty ft broad. Dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties develop between 2 and 6 ft excessive. Plant crape myrtle bushes at the very least 6 ft away from homes. Present roughly 10 to fifteen ft of house between crape myrtle bushes.
For extra, see our in-depth guides to crape myrtle deer resistance and whether or not crape myrtles are poisonous to people and animals.
Edd is a budding content material author and gardener residing in the UK. He has a bachelor’s diploma in Inventive and Skilled Writing and has written for a number of gardening publications on-line. He’s enthusiastic about nature and sustainability with a concentrate on gardening and wildlife.
