Tree of the month: Crape myrtle
Crape myrtle flowers can be found in red, magenta, pink, purple and white.
Beginning in July, crape myrtle trees are easily spotted on the Island.
Latin Names: Lagerstroemia fauriei, L. indica, L. hybrids.
Location: They’re displayed proudly along roadsides or can be seen exploding over privet hedges and fences with their dense clusters of impossible-to-miss flashy flowers. On North Midway road, two trees adjacent to one another compete for attention with purple and red flowers. In the Heights, you can find splendid trees with red, magenta, purple and pink flowers. My crape myrtle has branches heavily laden with white bunches that arch gracefully downward.
Tree stats: The Chinese and Korean crape myrtle (L. indica) arrived in Charleston in 1786 and quickly became associated with Southern landscapes. However, L. Indica is not hardy in northern climates and it’s prone to powdery mildew. The Japanese species, L. fauriei, was introduced to America in the 1950s and is the source for hardiness that has made it possible for crape myrtles to expand their range from the South to colder areas like Long Island. The combination of these two species has provided the backbone of our modern crape myrtles.
Plant magic: A number of today’s hybrids and cultivars emerged from a U.S. National Arboretum breeding program in the 1960s led by Dr. Donald Egolf. The program produced trees that exhibit cold hardiness, vibrant colors, and mildew resistance. Given Native American names, Dr. Egolf’s varieties remain landscape staples. I grow “Natchez” for its brilliant white flowers, long season of bloom, and colorful bark. Planted five years ago, it thrives on a northern slope that gets battered by cold winter winds. It has never suffered dieback (knock on wood), even after last January’s extreme cold snap. Over the past five decades, breeding programs have produced crape myrtles of all sizes, including shrubs as small as three feet.
The beauty of the bark: Crape myrtle’s show doesn’t stop with the flowers. Some hybrids and cultivars have handsome bark inherited from L. fauriei. “Natchez” has beige bark that peels away in the summer months, revealing a rich cinnamon-colored layer. As the tree ages, the cinnamon layer can become more dominant. Some homeowners floodlight these vivid trunks at night to dramatic effect. If you do, keep the light low so as not to affect neighbors.
A landscape winner: As a gardener who loves our native trees, I have only praise for crape myrtles. Because they tend to have a vase-like shape, even the taller growing varieties fit nicely in small spaces. For maximum bloom, give them full sun. Crape myrtles are mostly disease free and non-invasive, and are a floral thrill at a time when few trees are blooming. Another bonus: their canopy can be open enough to allow underplanting. I grow a mix of perennials and annuals under mine, including a salvia that attracts hummingbirds. When the birds are sated with nectar, they rest on the myrtle branches. It makes my day all day long.
For more information on Island trees, contact Mr. Purtell at [email protected].
