Crepe Myrtles: A Southern Staple

Crepe Myrtle is a favorite in the Southeast, and it’s easy to see why! This plant produces stunning blooms all summer long and thrives in both heat and drought. Even in winter, its bark adds a unique touch to any landscape.

Selection

You’ll definitely find a Crepe Myrtle that’s perfect for your yard. These versatile shrubs come in all shapes and sizes, from dwarf varieties under four feet to tree-sized ones that can grow over twenty feet tall.

Start by considering how much space you have and what flower color you prefer. It’s also a good idea to choose a disease-resistant variety that does well in our area.

For smaller spaces, try something compact. ‘Tonto’ creates a 10-foot tree with stunning red flowers. Read more about the “Tonto” and other types of Crepe Myrtles  ‘Acoma’ is a white-flowering variety with lovely weeping branches and grows just over 10 feet tall. It’s also resistant to powdery mildew.

If you have more space, go for ‘Seminole’, a fuchsia-flowering tree that reaches 20 feet, or ‘Natchez’, a 30-foot-tall variety with beautiful white flowers. 

Care:

Crepe Myrtles thrive in full sun and need regular watering for the first few weeks after planting. Once they’re established, they’re very drought-tolerant and don’t need much fertilizer, though they will grow more lush with some extra water and nutrients.

Pruning:

A naturally enchanting branch structure is one of the things that makes the Crepe Myrtle so wonderful! In general, it is better to prune Crepe Myrtles while they are still young and
the branches are thin, ideally while temperatures are still cool (around Valentine’s Day). Cutting back large branches and leaving stubs will create an unnatural appearance and increase the plant’s susceptibility to pests and disease-this practice is commonly referred to as “Crepe Murder” for a reason! Just because you see your neighbor hacking back their Crepes doesn’t mean you should. Instead, simply tip and thin small branches to encourage the desired shape and improve airflow. Because Crepe Myrtle flowers arise on the new growth of the current season, we always prune them just before new growth begins to emerge in spring. We recommend pruning in February while the temps are still cool.

Encouraging a Second Bloom:

Although there is no guarantee, it is possible to encourage second bloom if you follow these steps carefully:

• As soon as about 85% of the blooms have faded, remove the 8-10″ long faded blooms PLUS 2-3″ of stem beyond the bloom clusters.
• After trimming the spent blooms, apply an extra heavy dose of fertilizer to encourage rapid growth and *hopefully* another round of beautiful blooms.