Crapemyrtle

Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica, L. fauriei, and hybrids)

Full sun, medium to dry moisture, drought-tolerant once established, tolerates clay and loam soils, pH 5.0–7.5.

3–30 feet tall depending on cultivar (dwarf to large tree forms); showy flowers in large terminal panicles in shades of white, pink, red, lavender, or purple, blooming June through September; fruit is a small dry capsule, splitting to release winged seeds in fall. Growth rate medium to fast. Exfoliating bark on mature specimens reveals smooth tan, salmon, or cinnamon layers.

Native region: Not native to Tennessee; ornamental introduction from China (L. indica) and Japan (L. fauriei).

Crapemyrtle is the most widely planted flowering tree in Middle Tennessee and the broader South, valued for multi-month summer bloom during the period when few other trees flower. L. fauriei hybrids (the National Arboretum series: 'Natchez', 'Tuscarora', 'Muskogee', etc.) carry significantly improved resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe australiana) compared to straight L. indica — mildew resistance should be the primary cultivar selection criterion in humid Middle Tennessee. Crapemyrtle aphids (Sarucallis kahawaluokalani) excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold growth on leaves and hardscapes beneath the canopy; insecticidal soap or systemic treatments manage heavy infestations. "Crape murder" — the practice of severe annual topping — creates weak, knobby regrowth and is not recommended; proper cultivar selection for space eliminates the need for topping.