Crape Myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica – planting and care

The language of flowers and plants is unmistakable. Some of their kind bewitch all human senses with their breathtaking fragrance, while others reach our hearts with their colorful splendor and give unspeakable joie de vivre. Crepe myrtle is such a wonderful plant creature that embodies all the beautiful aspects of nature.

popularity

Anyone who has seen their magnificent abundance of flowers will not want to miss the sight. That is why many species of the plant, which belongs to the willow-rich family, can be found in domestic gardens, where they not only bring joy to the viewer, but also to many insects. Crepe myrtle originally comes from Asia, mainly from Korea, Chile or Japan, and apart from the part of the name it has nothing in common with the common myrtle. In order for the lilac-like exotic plant to develop its full bloom, it needs a lot of heat. A full sun, sheltered from the wind is therefore suitable as a location, but a south-facing slope in the garden is also ideal. Some gardeners are already eagerly awaiting the first blossoms of crape myrtle in July, but some of them are waiting in vain.

Discovery and essential characteristics

Crape myrtle, also known as Lagerstroemia indica, owes its unusual name to a plant lover and hobby botanist, Magnus Lagerstroem. On his travels through India, he discovered the fascinating plant and was fascinated by the majestic growth and the almost inexhaustible blaze of flowers and colors right from the start. In order to know exactly which particular plant species he had found, he sent the crape myrtle to his friend, the botanist Karl von Linné, for identification.

All crape myrtle varieties belong to the shedding shrubs or trees. In the spring, new twigs are formed, mostly with a square shape, as well as leaves that are characterized by smooth leaf edges and appear reddish when they shoot. The onset of autumn coloring later gives the leaves a yellow, orange or red appearance. Crepe myrtle’s unmistakable trademark is its upright, up to 20 cm long panicles of flowers, whose play of colors can be characterized by delicate pink-purple tones in summer, or appear in a strong red. In the course of the flowering period, the magnificent colors fade and can turn into a plain white. The striking flower cup has a funnel-shaped appearance and the perianth is doubled.

Crepe myrtle also has capsules in which the seeds are located. Although these capsules look tempting, they are not suitable for consumption as they have a strong narcotic effect. The scale-like, peeling bark attracts particular attention. The unusual stem picture perfects the plant’s appearance and gives it a touch of the exotic.

Tips for a long, healthy plant life

In the warm regions of origin of the crape myrtle, the sun shines brightly, so that the plant feels good and announces this with an abundance of flowers that hardly any other tree or shrub can compete with. In our European climate you can hardly offer these perfect living conditions and since the Lagerstroemia indica is not hardy, it usually grows in tubs in this country. If you want to benefit from the magnificent appearance of crape myrtle, you should give the attractive plant enough care and attention.

  • needs full sun, sheltered from the wind,
  • Flowering time in late summer July/August
  • loves mineral soils,
  • protect from rain,
  • water regularly, avoid waterlogging,
  • Fertilize once a week from April to September
  • Add fresh soil every 2 years
  • cut back after bud drop.

proper care

Under ideal conditions, the crape myrtle can reach a considerable size of 5 m. However, since the plants only reach their full bloom in long-lasting warmth, they should get a sunny spot that also protects the delicate flowers from rain. Crepe myrtle is preferably planted in tubs containing soil mixed with expanded clay. Especially on hot summer days, you should keep the soil mixture constantly moist, but avoid waterlogging. The safest thing to do from time to time is a thumb test, because the soil must never dry out completely. You should also avoid spraying the sensitive leaves and flowers when watering.

Crepe myrtle is considered relatively undemanding and its nutrient requirements are limited. Fertilizing every 14 days from spring to early September with high-quality tub plant fertilizer is advantageous. Successful gardeners who have planted specimens of crape myrtle in the garden should occasionally fertilize the soil with a dose of compost.

If the flowering period is over, a vigorous pruning or, if necessary, thinning should be carried out. In this way, the plant gets new energy and the risk of disease is also reduced. Since the new flowers always only grow on the shoots, the stronger the shoots, the more magnificent the flowers.

Crepe myrtle needs a soil change every 2 years and should be transplanted. In the planting ritual, high-quality potting soil should always be used, which is characterized by coarse-grained parts such as chippings, gravel or coarse sand and is of the highest quality. These additives ensure structural stability, sufficient air and water supply and thus minimize the risk of rotting.

Off to winter storage – hibernation

In late autumn, the period of hibernation begins and the crape myrtle should find its way into a bright but cool winter quarters. A temperature of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius is important for storage. It is also important to ensure that the root ball does not dry out completely during the winter. Since the young shoots of the plant are very fragile, great care should be taken in spring when moving them out of winter storage. In regions with very mild winters, the Lagerstroemia indica only needs light overwintering protection and can definitely keep its place outdoors. A watering is then not necessary. However, the sensitive root area must be protected from the cold temperatures with a layer of leaves or straw.

It is said that the minimum temperature that the crape myrtle can endure is -15 degrees Celsius, but each plant has its own characteristics and reacts differently and perhaps one should not really take a chance when it comes to wintering. The crape myrtle should be placed warm and bright again in February. In this way, the first leaves can gently sprout again. Now you can fertilize again and pour more.

The types of propagation

Crepe myrtle has seed pods of its own, from which new plants can be grown. However, propagation by seeds is a very time-consuming, difficult undertaking, which is not always crowned with success. Cultivation works best in so-called seed boxes, into which a peat-sand mixture is placed in equal parts and the existing seed. The prepared seed boxes should be placed in a weather-protected, bright and, if possible, damp place. After a germination period of at least 3 to 4 weeks, the first seedlings are visible, which can then be planted outdoors or in planters or pots when the temperatures are warmer. If you want to sow directly outdoors, you should preferably do so in spring. It is to be considered

Vegetative propagation by cuttings

A much easier way of propagation is through cuttings. You don’t have to pay too much attention to it and success also comes much earlier. Skilled gardeners can look forward to lush flowering after only 2 years. For vegetative propagation, cuttings are cut to a size of 10 to 20 centimeters and then placed in a seed soil-sand mixture or preferably in pricking soil. If you want to speed up the rooting process, you can help with so-called rooting powder. Just like with seed propagation, you now need to place the pots with the small cuttings in a warm, bright place and provide them with constant moisture. The small cuttings particularly love soil warmth and thank them with quick rooting.

diseases and their consequences

Crape myrtle is not very demanding in terms of care, but unfortunately also a little sensitive when it comes to moisture. Therefore, especially in very cool and humid weather, it can happen that there is a susceptibility to powdery mildew. This type of disease can be seen on whitish or deformed leaves. To prevent this from happening in the first place, care should be taken when watering that the leaves are protected from moisture. If the powdery mildew has a firm grip on a plant, you can remedy the situation with a few targeted countermeasures. Injecting with Schwegel or Triforin can be extremely helpful. If you don’t want to resort to chemicals straight away and prefer gentler measures,

However, the plant can still be attacked by a disease, namely rust, especially in summer. This can be recognized by the orange pimples that spread on the leaves. This can be remedied by using a broad spectrum fungicide.

Conclusion
Anyone who loves holidays in southern climes can encounter the blossoms of crape myrtle everywhere on paths and bed borders. She stretches her long panicles towards the sun with relish and lets herself be enveloped by the warmth of the rays. Even if we do not find such ideal climatic conditions in our region, it is worth trying to establish this extraordinary exotic plant in your home garden.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top