Crape myrtles are lovely deciduous shrubs which might be naturalized throughout the Southern United States. Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ is among the most lovely and fashionable cultivars, because of its elegant, prolific white flowers. On this article, we’ll clarify the right way to develop crape myrtle ‘Natchez’.
Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’: Overview
| Plant Household: | Lythraceae |
| Genus: | Lagerstroemia |
| Frequent Names: | Crape myrtle |
| Native Vary: | Southeastern United States |
| Rising Zones: | 7 to 10 |
| Flowering Season: | Summer time |
| Flowering Colours: | White |
| Mature Peak: | 20-30 toes |
| Daylight | Full solar to partial shade |
| Fertilizing: | Balanced, slow-release fertilizer with an N-P-Ok ratio of 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 in spring and summer time. |
| Watering: | Common watering in the course of the first 12 months of progress, drought-tolerant as soon as established. |
| Frequent Pests: | Japanese beetle, aphids, spider mites |
| Pruning Wants: | Prune in late winter or early spring earlier than new progress emerges. |
About Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’
Household & Genus
All crape myrtles come from the Lagerstroemia genus within the loosestrife household (Lythraceae). Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ (Lagerstroemia x Natchez) is a hybrid cultivar created by combining Lagerstroemia fauriei with Lagerstroemia indica. It was produced by the Nationwide Arboretum in Washington D.C. and named after the Natchez, a Native American folks.
Native Vary
Crape myrtles are native to components of Asia, Australia, and the Indian Subcontinent. By means of its hybrid lineage, crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ comes from China, Japan, and Korea in Southeast Asia. In roughly 1790, crape myrtles have been launched to america and have since change into naturalized, particularly within the South.
Botanical Traits
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ is a deciduous shrub or small tree with a number of trunks. Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ is prized for the massive panicles of white, crepe-like flowers it produces from mid to late summer time. It’s a stunning landscaping shrub that’s fashionable within the Southern United States.
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ has darkish inexperienced leaves that flip enticing shades of orange and pink in the course of the fall. This cultivar loses its leaves within the winter, permitting its lovely bark to take middle stage. This peeling bark is available in shades of reddish-brown.
Which means & Symbolism
Crape myrtles are strongly related to the Southern United States regardless of being a naturalized species. Crape myrtle is usually generally known as the ‘Lilac of the South’. Crape myrtles additionally symbolize magnificence, love, good luck, and longevity. In lots of cultures, myrtles symbolize marriage and are a preferred selection for wedding ceremony bouquets.
Makes use of & Advantages
Crape myrtles are glorious decorative shrubs because of their lovely flowers and low-maintenance necessities. Crape myrtles are regularly utilized in city landscaping, particularly in parks and different inexperienced areas. Crape myrtles are a very fashionable characteristic in Southern gardens and parks.
How Tall, Extensive, and Quick Does Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’ Develop?
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ grows between 25 and 30 toes tall and roughly 15 to 25 toes large. This cultivar’s spectacular potential measurement makes it superb for city landscaping. Like different crape myrtles, ‘Natchez’ is a fast-growing plant that may develop by as a lot as 3 toes per 12 months.
The place and How one can Plant Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ thrives in USDA Zones 6 to 10. ‘Natchez’ is surprisingly cold-hardy and may survive winter temperatures as little as -5ºF.
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ requires a sheltered location that will get roughly six hours of full solar day by day. These deciduous shrubs additionally require well-draining soils that retain some moisture. Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ can also be pretty drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant.
Plant crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ within the fall or early spring. Dig a gap that’s twice as large and the identical depth because the shrub’s nursery pot. Situate the plant within the gap, leaving the highest of the basis ball simply above the floor.
Can I Develop Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’ in a Pot?
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ might be grown in a pot with correct rising circumstances. It requires a pot that’s a minimum of 24-30 inches large and deep, well-draining potting soil, full solar to partial shade, common watering, common fertilization, and pruning as wanted. With the correct care, crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ can thrive in a container backyard.
How one can Develop Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’
Daylight
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ wants a minimum of six hours of full solar each day, ideally in a south or west-facing location. Morning daylight is much less intense, making it preferable to harsh direct afternoon solar (which may result in yellowing leaves). Crape myrtles rising in an excessive amount of shade will battle to flower correctly.
Soil Circumstances
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ requires free, well-draining soils that also maintain some moisture. Chalky, loamy, or sandy soils are good. Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ does finest in barely acidic soils with pH ranges from 5.0 to six.5. Nevertheless, most impartial soils will probably be completely high quality.
Watering
As soon as established, crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ is fairly drought-tolerant. Water it as soon as each two weeks when you haven’t had any current rainfall. Water newly planted crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ vegetation a couple of times weekly for the primary two years. This enables the shrub to ascertain itself.
Fertilizing
Fertilize established crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ shrubs as soon as within the spring when new leaves begin to seem. Use slow-release fertilizer granules to supply long-lasting vitamins. Feed newly planted shrubs as soon as a month of their first rising season with diluted liquid fertilizer.
Pruning
Prune crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ shrubs in winter or early spring whereas they’re dormant. That is the very best time to form the plant if desired. Take away broken or weak branches from crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ vegetation at any time of 12 months.
Crape myrtles develop flowers on new progress, so keep away from pruning them whereas the buds are growing. Deadhead spent flowers all through the blooming season to encourage a second spherical of blooms. At all times use clear, sharp instruments to forestall the unfold of illness.
Is it Simple to Propagate Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’?
Crape myrtles, together with ‘Natchez’, might be propagated by a number of strategies, together with softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings, and layering. I’ve included some important ideas for every methodology:
Softwood Cuttings:
- Take cuttings within the spring or early summer time when new progress seems.
- Select a wholesome stem that’s about 6 inches lengthy and has a number of leaves.
- Take away the decrease leaves and dip the lower finish into the rooting hormone.
- Plant the chopping in a pot stuffed with moist, well-draining soil and canopy it with a plastic bag or dome to create a damp surroundings.
- Hold the chopping in shiny, oblique mild and preserve constant moisture.
- After about 6-8 weeks, the chopping ought to have developed roots and might be transplanted to a bigger pot or open air.
Hardwood Cuttings:
- Take cuttings within the late fall or winter when the plant is dormant.
- Select a wholesome stem that’s about 6-8 inches lengthy and has no leaves.
- Dip the lower finish into the rooting hormone.
- Plant the chopping in a pot stuffed with moist, well-draining soil and canopy it with a plastic bag or dome.
- Hold the chopping in a cool, shiny location and preserve constant moisture.
- Within the spring, the chopping ought to have developed roots and might be transplanted to a bigger pot or open air.
Layering:
- Select a low-hanging stem that’s nonetheless connected to the plant and bend it all the way down to the bottom.
- Make a small lower on the underside of the stem and apply rooting hormone to the wound.
- Bury the lower space within the soil, leaving the highest of the stem uncovered.
- Hold the soil moist and watch for the stem to develop roots, which may take a number of months.
- As soon as roots have fashioned, lower the stem from the mother or father plant and transplant the brand new plant to a bigger pot or open air.
In my expertise, propagation success can fluctuate considerably, relying on the rising circumstances. It’s additionally vital to do not forget that newly propagated vegetation could take a number of years to succeed in maturity and produce flowers.
Frequent Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’ Pests & Ailments
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ is proof against powdery mildew, a fungal an infection that targets crape myrtles. Nevertheless, crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ remains to be prone to leaf spot. One of the best ways to forestall illnesses is to encourage good air circulation and preserve superb rising circumstances.
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ remains to be susceptible to pests like aphids, Japanese beetles, or scale bugs. Get rid of these pests utilizing insecticidal cleaning soap or horticultural oils like neem oil.
Rising Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’ FAQs
What Shade is Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’?
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ produces white flowers from mid to late summer time. This cultivar has reddish-brown bark and darkish inexperienced leaves that flip orange or pink within the fall.
Is ‘Natchez’ Crape Myrtle Evergreen?
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ is a deciduous shrub or small tree. Because of this it drops its leaves in the course of the fall to preserve vitality throughout winter dormancy.
Are ‘Natchez’ Crape Myrtles Messy?
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ might be messy when it drops its leaves within the fall. These shrubs even have peeling bark, which may trigger an extra mess.
What does Crape Myrtle ‘Natchez’ odor like?
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ just isn’t usually identified for having a robust perfume. Whereas some crape myrtle varieties could have a gentle, candy scent, the first attraction of those vegetation is their lovely, long-lasting flowers and enticing bark. Nevertheless, particular person perceptions of perfume can fluctuate, so some folks could detect a delicate scent from ‘Natchez’ or different crape myrtles.
Wrapping Up
Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’ is a wonderful hybrid crape myrtle cultivar with dazzling white flowers. ‘Natchez’ flowers in mid to late summer time and thrives in Zones 6 to 10. This cultivar grows as much as 30 toes tall and roughly 25 toes large, making it a wonderful low-maintenance decorative shrub.
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 dwelling 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 give attention to gardening and wildlife.
