Lagerstroemia

Many consider Crape myrtles exotic plants for the South, California, and other hot places and that they don’t do well in our climate. The truth is that ALL do not, BUT selected varieties have been grown in the PNW and have proven year after year that they are hardy to cold, disease resistant, reliable bloomers and are GREAT plants. Superb small trees and shrubs for the urban garden they absorb blasting heat, clay soil, and even some drought when established. Most importantly they come in a wide range of sizes and are excellent for confined spaces. So many small trees are available in our climate, including an innummerable variety of Japanese Maples that we think Crape myrtles are a welcome alternative. If you have a small garden in full sun, Crape myrtles offer the powerful triple allure of great bark, beautiful flowers (at a great time of year) and a range of spectacular fall color. The varieties we offer have all been proven to grow and bloom in the Willamette Valley and are resistant to powdery mildew.

Crape myrtles are hardy to Zone 7. In rare (extreme cold) they may freeze back a little, Infact, their vigorous root systems allow them to return from the roots, even if gardeners cut them to the ground. All require full hot sun for as long as possible to ripen growth for the following winter. Established Lagerstroemia achieve their full cold hardiness (about -5ºF) when their bark begins to exfoliate. In most varieties that occurs three years after planting. All require full sun ( at least 6 hours a day) and excel in the hottest situations. Soil that is too rich combined with too much irrigation can lead to overly abundant soft growth which will be insufficiently mature to survive the winter. Stop watering Crape myrtles when they begin to bloom.
Crape myrtles bloom after a certain number of hours above 85ºF. This tells them that it’s time to stop growing and start blooming.

In our region that heating requirement is often satisfied by late summer- depending upon the variety and year. In Portland it is most often the second week of August with bloom continuing nonstop until early October. Warmer years can bring much earlier bloom and this can extend flowers for up to 80 days. In cooler regions such as Puget Sound it is important to choose varieties that thrive and bloom in the coolest areas.

Rather than offer just any old Crape myrtle we offer selections that perform well in cooler summer temperatures. Lagerstroemia thrive in subtropical climates such as central China where they are thought to have originated and have been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. In China much like the southeasern United States, high humidity in summer keeps overnight lows in the tropical realm above 70ºF. Many of us live in the PNW because that does NOT happen, we LOVE our pleasant 54ºF nights in summer, once again, selected varieties do not require as much heat and those selected varieties are the ones that we focus on.

Crape myrtles do best in average soil that is not too rich and is reasonably well drained. Best performance comes with deep irrigation every 2 or 3 weeks during the driest parts of the growing season. Those that do not receive water during the summer will often stop growing and will not bloom.

Crape myrtles are a lot like Tomatoes, they resent interruptions in growth and do best when they are kept actively growing through the summer months until they set buds to bloom. Established specimens require less water and are even tolerant of drought. In our cool springs Crape myrtles are one of the last deciduous woody plants to leaf out. We suspect that people have even given them up for dead and have ripped them out thinking that they did not survive the winter. They leaf out with truly warm days, above 70º- this is an important item to tell customers. One last important item, Crape myrtles bloom on new wood. They may be pruned in early spring to expose the trunks and encourage good air circulation. Unless you cut off all the flower buds after they have formed, it is virtually impossible to prune a Crape myrtle incorrectly- though the best specimens are pruned very little. We offer the following varieties in 2007.

Showy flowers in a wide range of colors, spectacular bark and good fall color make Crape myrtles one of our favorite small trees and shrubs for the PNW. We offer many, but only varieties proven to bloom in our mild summers.

Lagerstroemia x ‘Arapaho’ Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Lythraceae

A recent introduction from the United States Arboretum with the first true red flowers on a disease free hybrid. A triple hybrid (again, the first) that involves Lagerstroemia limii, indica, and fauriei. A tall growing tree to 20’ yet only 8’ wide. People seem to want small Crape myrtles and yet the larger growing varieties are EXCELLENT urban trees. ‘Arapaho’ offers reliable true red flowers in large trusses in late August through September. Its a deep and delicious red. The bark is dark brown exfoliating handsomely to shiny tan and orange after 3 years in the ground. Fall color is an intense maroon red to red and it holds its leaves for several weeks before they fall. Full hot sun and occasional deep watering in summer is best. We also like it for its dark red new growth and deep red stems on the current seasons growth. Completely resistant to disease. We highly recommend this tree for small gardens. Excellent underplanted with deep purple fall Asters and Fuchsia ‘Jim Muncaster’.

Lagerstroemia in the Pacific Northwest

Lagerstroemia x fauriei ‘Hopi’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Lythraceae

Predjudice against pink has become a pervasive thing in PNW gardening. Funny, it doesn’t extend to flowering plums, cherries, rhododendrons and heather. Pity. In Crape myrtles, with admittedly showy flowers it seems to be a strange inhibitor. ‘Hopi’ is in our opinion is one of the VERY BEST Crape myrtle for our region. An early and reliable bloomer with copious amounts of bright, warm pink flowers, some years in PDX beginning in early July and extending to early October. A compact rounded shrub to 10’ tall in time and about 8’ wide. Glossy, grass green leaves emerge salmon pink and are some of the first of all Crape myrtle to appear. This shrub begins to bloom early and as with all requires full hot sun and occasional summer water to bloom. Slow growiing, about 18” a year. May be cut back hard in early spring to increase blooming wood and limit size. Fall color is a long lasting and reliable vivid orange. The bark is amazingly handsome as well; exfoliating to a warm salmon/buff and often taking on silver tints in winter. ‘Hopi’ has some of the lowest heating requirements to bloom and is reccomended for Seattle and other cool areas. Wonderful in large containers. Drought tolerant when established. My garden would be incomplete without this shrub, it offers so much.

Lagerstroemia x fauriei ‘Miami’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lythraceae

The first time a I saw this rare cultivar from the National Arboretum in a garden in Portland I thought, wow.....that’s cool good bark. A tall growing Crape myrtle to 18’ spreading to 10’ wide with time. The exfoliating bark is a spot on mimic of our native Madrone, smooth, vivid orange with irregular spots of green -spectacular. The broad, vase-shaped habit is perfect for displaying the dark pink flowers that appear reliably in early August. Even better the fall color is a consistent and reliable bright orange. Leaves hold for several weeks before they drop. One of the more tender varieties when young it achieves full zone 7 hardiness as the bark begins to exfoliate about three years after planting. We offer this spectacular tree on a limited basis. Full hot sun and occasional summer water. It has performed very well in the Willamette Valley for approximately 20 years. A regal garden tree.

Lagerstroemia x fauriei ‘Muskogee’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Lythraceae

Extremely cold hardy and spectacular tree that is not seen very often. It should be. To 25’ tall and

15’ wide in time it has beautiful exfoliating white/tan bark, large fragrant lavender flowers and extremely showy fall color. Released in 1978 as one of the first disease resistant hybrids there are fantastic specimens in Portland that are approaching 30 years old. The blooms appear in early August and continue until October. They are a subtle shade of lilac and emit a lemony fragrance many feet away. A vase shaped tree that will become broad with time. Rich well drained soil with regular summer irrigation. Excellent as a multi-trunked tree or as a standard. In fall the foliage becomes a vivid combination of yellow, orange with tints of tomato red. This Crape myrtle is so hardy to cold that it is now being offered in parts of Zone 5 in the Ohio River Valley. Highly recommended as a garden tree. Large specimens cast shade with time and provide a wonderful canopy for a shade garden.

Young specimen of ‘Muskogee’ blooming, flower intensity is muted in this photo- Normally darker

Lagerstroemia x fauriei ‘Natchez’ Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Lythraceae

The undisputed queen of Crape Myrtles, ‘Natchez’ is one of the most elegant trees that we can grow. An arching tree to 25’ tall and 15’ wide with time it has beautiful foliage, abundant early white flowers and INCREDIBLE bark. Stewartias are lovely, but, unless you have deep rich soil that is constantly moist in part shade, they can be challenging to accomodate in W. Oregon. ‘Natchez’, whose bark is even more spectacular is an EXCELLENT alternative. Large trusses of fragrant white flowers are among the earliest to appear in our climate. Flowers are fantastic, but the overall package, including disease resistance, beautiful fall color and graceful habit are the hallmarks of this great tree. Extensively planted in the southeastern U.S. its merits have yet to be exploited in our gardens. Multi-trunked or as a standard it is a long-lived fantastic specimen. Full hot sun and regular summer water in well drained soil. Grows quickly. Often in bloom by July 15th in Portland, a great specimen may be seen at the Chinese classical garden.

Lagerstroemia x fauriei ‘Tuscarora’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lythraceae

‘Tuscarora’ represents the quintessential Crape myrtle - huge coral pink flowers that are well ruffled and appear in a massive display for more than a month. Tall growing with a somewhat “stiff” and thin outline- 20’ tall and only 8’ wide. Consistent flowerer in the PNW- first date in Portland averages Aug.20. Full, hot sun and occasional, deep irrigation in summer. Great fall color and in time handsome exfoliating bark of smooth champagne pink. Works well in small spaces and is a natural for thin beds against south facing walls. Performs well as a (single-trunked) standard. Completely resistant to powdery mildew and one of the lasting and best introductions from the National Arboretum breeding program.

Lagerstreomia x fauriei ‘Tuskeegee’ Zn6a (-10º to -5ºF) Lythraceae

Extreme hardiness to cold is but one fantastic feature of this hybrid Crape myrtle. Rarely seen it is one of the showiest in bloom and features a very different habit. Deep pink, nearly red flowers appear on a wide spreading tree to 15’ tall and as wide in time. A habit that mimics Witchazels. The bark is an exceptional smooth sandalwood striped with taupe and green. Full hot sun (at least 6 hours). Excellent against a blasting hot south facing wall. This has been one of the best performers in the Willamette Valley where it is resistant to mildew and blooms faithfully for 50 days each year beginning approximately August 20th. Well drained soil and regular summer water.

‘Arapaho’

‘Hopi’

‘Natchez’

‘Tuscarora’

‘Tuskeegee’

Lagerstroemia indica ‘Siren Red’ TM PPAF Zn6b (0º to 5ºF) Lythraceae

The deepest true red flowers on any Crape Myrtle emerge

from buds that are nearly black. New growth is deep red

on this compact shrub to 6’ tall and 4’ wide. In fall the

leaves turn to a sizzling combination of red and orange and

hold for 3-4 weeks, depending upon the weather.

A relatively new mildew resistant variety that has per-

formed very well in our garden. Blooms appear in mid

to late August and are effective for up to 50 days. Slow

growing to a medium sized shrub. Full, HOT sun in rich well

drained soil with occasional deep

soaks in summer. Beautiful flowering shrub for late

summer and early fall. Combines well with gold foliaged

conifers as seen here. Match with Dahlia ‘Arabian Nights’

for a dramatic exact color echo. Bark exfoliates to a snakily

smooth tan/gray after 3 years in the ground.

‘Siren Red’

Lagerstroemia x fauriei ‘Zuni’ Zn6b (-5º to 0ºF) Lythraceae

Consistently one of the very best Crape Myrtles for flowering in the PNW. Copious light purple flowers shaded with lavender appear from early August until early October, depending on the year. Full, HOT sun with occasional deep water. Must have water to bloom. To 14' tall and 10' wide eventually. Very upright. Bark exfoliates to shiny tan and gray after several years. Fall color is showy, red, orange and yellow. Hardiness increases with age. After a close comparison with the very similar L.i. ‘Catawba’ we prefer ‘Zuni’, its flowers fade less with age and it has a more agreeable habit.

‘Zuni’

Lagerstroemia indica ‘PDX-tra Early Red’ Zn7a (0º to 5ºF) Lythraceae

Our own introduction of a compact Crape Myrtle that consistenly begins blooming in Portland in early July- regardless of cold weather. This seedling of Lagerstroemia indica ‘Cherokee’ has grown to only 8’ tall and 5’ wide after 15 years. It’s early and reliable bloom is vivid

true red and continues for 6-8 weeks during summer. Unlike, other varieties, it requires regular water and is NOT tolerant of drought. Full sun and regular water in average to slightly rich soil.

It has never suffered from cold damage or had the slightest bit of mildew. The bark eventually

peels to reveal a smooth beige/tan . Fall color is a mix of light yellow to light red. Maybe

the only Crape Myrtle selected for reliable bloom in the PNW. Wooohooo.

‘PDX-tra Early Red’

Xera Plants introduction

‘Pecos’

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