26 named cultivars

shrub

Crape Myrtle

The Story

Plant Bio

Lagerstroemia indica, crape myrtle, is a multi-trunked deciduous shrub or small tree native from the central Himalaya through southern China and Indo-China, reaching six to thirty feet depending on selection. Crinkled crepe-textured flowers in white, pink, red or purple open in large panicles through summer, and the smooth bark exfoliates in patches of brown, grey and cinnamon.

The bark is as valuable as the flowers — smooth, mottled and revealed most fully in winter once the leaves drop. It flowers on new wood over a very long summer season, and the habit ranges from three-foot dwarfs to thirty-foot trees depending entirely on which selection you buy.

Uses & Benefits:

Long summer flowering plus exfoliating mottled bark that carries the winter.

Drought, heat and pollution tolerant, with forms to suit any space from container to lawn tree.

Flowers attract butterflies and pollinators through the height of summer.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

216 inches

Width

216 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low to moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Central Himalaya to southern China and Indo-China

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in well-drained soil.
Choose full sun; flowering fails in shade.
Check the mature size of your selection before siting.
Water through the first two seasons.
Prune lightly in late winter to shape, never hard.
Remove suckers from the base to keep the trunks clean.

Pro Tip

Do not top it — cutting the main trunks back to stubs each winter produces weak whippy regrowth and destroys the bark and form that make the plant worth growing.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in full sun for heavy flowering ☀️
Check mature size; forms range 3-30 ft 📏
Prune lightly in late winter ✂️
Expose the trunks to show the bark 🌳

Don't

Top it or cut trunks back to stubs ❌
Plant in shade and expect flowers ❌
Plant a tree form in a small bed ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monitor
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Small flowering tree for a lawn or patioSummer-flowering shrub borderContainer specimen in dwarf forms

Companion Plants

American Beautyberry Muhly Grass Yaupon Holly Blue Salvia Black-Eyed Susan

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Crape Myrtle questions

What zones can Crape Myrtle grow in?

Crape Myrtle is hardy in USDA Zones 6–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Crape Myrtle deer resistant?

Yes — Crape Myrtle is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Crape Myrtle bloom?

Crape Myrtle typically blooms in midsummer to early fall through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Crape Myrtle need full sun?

Crape Myrtle does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Crape Myrtle drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Crape Myrtle handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.