Lagerstroemia x hybrida 'Sarah's Favorite'

Garden hybrid

This is a garden hybrid, bred from more than one wild species, so it has no single species page of its own.

10 other cultivars

tree

Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite'

Lagerstroemia x hybrida 'Sarah's Favorite'

The Story

Plant Bio

Lagerstroemia species are deciduous shrubs and trees valued for crinkled summer blossoms, showy fall foliage, and smooth exfoliating bark. Native to warm areas of Asia, these woody plants require heat and direct sunlight to produce terminal panicles of flowers on current season growth.

'Sarah's Favorite' is an upright, vase-shaped hybrid selection featuring crisp white flower trusses up to 18 inches long from summer into early fall. Its cinnamon-orange exfoliating bark peels cleanly to reveal smooth light wood, while oval foliage shifts from bronze in spring to dark glossy green in summer and bright red-orange in fall.

Uses & Benefits:

Provides year-round interest through pure white flower panicles, rich autumn leaf color, and exfoliating cinnamon bark.

Functions as a cold-hardy, heat-tolerant small shade tree suitable for urban canopy plantings.

Serves as a summer nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and general insect pollinators.

Garden hybrid

Bred from more than one wild species, so it has no species page of its own.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tree

Height

300"

Width

240"

Light

Full Sun

Zones

6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Low to Moderate

Humidity

High

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Asia (parent species)

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Bloom period

Summer – Early fall

In flower about 4 months of the year

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in a location receiving at least six hours of direct daily sun in fertile, well-drained soil.
Water deeply twice weekly during the first growing season to establish the root system.
Apply a 2-inch to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the root zone, keeping it clear of the bark.
Prune lightly in late winter while dormant to remove low suckers and rubbing branches.

Pro Tip

Prune only dead wood, crossing branches, and basal suckers in late winter; heading back structural branches ruins the natural vase habit and causes weak growth.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Do plant in full sun to ensure optimal flowering and fungal disease resistance.
Do prune lightly in late winter to maintain clear structural branching.
Do mulch the root zone to conserve soil moisture during summer drought.

Don't

Don't top or severely pollard major limbs.
Don't plant in waterlogged or swampy ground.
Don't over-fertilize with high-nitrogen formulas that promote weak foliage growth over flower production.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Mulch
Pest Check
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Specimen treeUrban street treePrivacy screenFoundation accent

Companion Plants

Buxus microphylla Coreopsis grandiflora Nepeta racemosa Salvia nemorosa

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite' questions

What zones can Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite' grow in?

Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite' is hardy in USDA Zones 6–10. 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 'Sarah's Favorite' deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite', especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite' bloom?

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

Does Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite' need full sun?

Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite' does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Crape Myrtle 'Sarah's Favorite' drought tolerant?

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