If there’s one tree that really stands out at this time of year, it’s crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica.

But there’s something sinister going on. If you look around town, you can sometimes spot cases of “crape murder”—the extreme pruning of crape myrtle limbs. This is not recommended because it alters the natural, graceful shape of the mature tree.

Native to China, crape myrtles are now naturalized in parts of the United States. Many of the newer cultivated varieties are named for Native American Tribes—and some of these can be seen flourishing at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

A good example is ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle. It’s a large-flowered tree form variety (20 feet tall by 30 feet wide) with white flowers and exfoliating bark. The popularity of ‘Natchez’ has grown because of its appealing landscape character. It is representative of the newest hybrids that are powdery mildew-resistant and free-flowering.

What’s so great about crapes?

They are versatile. The trees make a colorful border when planted in a line or a striking focal point in a garden when planted as a lone specimen. Crape myrtles also provide a wonderful canopy to shade walkways or paths. Small varieties can be grown in containers.

Crape myrtles provide year-round interest. The smooth green leaves of spring and summer turn yellow to orange in fall. Some varieties have bark that exfoliates displaying tan, beige and light green mottled bark, which is a delight to see in the garden when most plants are dormant. Most popular varieties have pink, purple, or white flower clusters up to 10 inches long. Blooms are long-lasting with each cluster lasting several weeks. Newer cultivars are more floriferous.

What do crape myrtles like? Full sun. A minimum of four to six hours of sun is needed for best flower production. They also prefer moist, well-drained soil.

Crape myrtles can be grown from seed or from cuttings. Cuttings should be taken from medium wood in fall or hard wood in winter. Trees transplant well when dormant in winter. They are hardy in Zones 7-9

Some tips if you’re growing crape myrtles:

Pruning seedpods after first bloom encourages another flowering cycle. Mulching around the base of trees retains moisture. When underplanted, drought-tolerant ground covers are recommended.  When fertilizing young trees, use half the recommended rate of 5-10-5 fertilizer for acid-loving plants. For established trees, a fertilizer with lower nitrogen proportions is recommended.  Avoid overfertilizing which promotes leaf growth over flower production.

So, confess—have you ever been accused of crape murder?

My husband and I have several crepe myrtles in our landscape and we love the natural beauty of our trees.  However, we have some at the front entrance of our community that have been ‘murdered’.  Is there a way to salvage these tortured trees?

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