Tree of the week

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Good morning, and welcome to our weekly timeout from subprime madness, otherwise known as ‘tree of the week.’ Today our tree-loving friend Pieter Severynen celebrates the

crape myrtle.

Crape myrtle – Lagerstroemia indica or L. hybrids:

‘This is another great summer bloomer. Crape myrtles are deciduous, moderately fast-growing, roundheaded to pyramidal, single or multitrunk, open, smaller trees. They have small leaves and don’t cast a deep shadow. Each variety is different in size; they range from dwarf shrubs to 25 feet high and 15 feet wide trees. Many of the ‘indica’ varieties, native to China, tend to get mildew within several miles of the coast; the hybrids, which were crossed with a Japanese species, are resistant. Festive in abundant bloom, the long-lasting flowers come in shades of red, white, pink or lavender, depending on variety.

Bring your Sunset Western Garden Book along for an accurate description, when selecting varieties in the nursery. Flowers are produced on new wood; best time to prune is winter or very early spring. The decorative bark is mottled yellowish brown; leaf fall color ranges from red to yellow. Cut off any suckers that grow from the bottom of the tree. Bark is very thin: trees are easily damaged by weed whackers!

Thanks, Pieter.
E-mail Pieter: Piseve@earthlink.net
Photo Credit: Texas Cooperative Extension