Tree of the Month: Crepe Myrtle

​The Crepe Myrtle (or Crêpe Myrtle, or even Crape Myrtle) is a popular deciduous decoration to any home or park, especially in the South—and especially here in the Athens area. You probably know them as those trees with the long, puffy bunches of flowers—the ones that always seem to bloom the second it gets warm and continue to bloom well into the fall? The ones that come in pinks, reds, whites, purples, and everything in between, and rain down a shower of petals with the wind (or a good shaking)?

Crepe Myrtles actually get their common name from these flowers; the small, delicate petals are wrinkled and highly resemble crêpe paper.

 They are tenuously attached to the tree, and will fall at the slightest provocation, leading to sidewalks and driveways littered with a veritable carpet of color. Children—and even, admittedly, adults—love to rustle the branches while standing under them to watch them float gently to the ground, like a colorful snowfall. 
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The flowers and even leaves and seeds are rated as safe for human consumption, so if you have an adventurous toddler interested in munching some petals, they’re perfectly safe. The   ASPCA  has also certified them as safe for animal consumption, so you don’t have to worry about your beloved fur-baby who loves to eat anything and everything in sight.

Did You Know?

There are nearly fifty varieties of Crepe Myrtles world-wide, though only about half a dozen are commonly seen in the South.

In addition to their colorful flowers, Crepe Myrtles have pretty colorful foliage, too. In the summer, the 2- to 8-inch long leaves are a deep, vibrant green, and in the fall, they can change to stunning reds, yellows, and oranges. An early cold snap or overnight freeze can actually lock the leaves into their green color, effectively canceling the show, but that’s rarely a problem we have down here in the South.

The fruit of the Crepe Myrtle grows in the form of small, green capsules that ripen to dark brown or black and eventually split along six or seven lines. These splits will release a bunch of small, winged seeds, which we’ve all played with at one time or another. With only the one wing and the heavy seed at one end, they will float to the ground in a quick spiral when dropped. Do keep an eye on them, though, because they can stain your driveway if trampled.

Crepe Myrtles are great to have around in the winter months, even though they will be bare of leaves and flowers, thanks to their beautiful bark. It’s what’s called “exfoliating” bark, which basically means it has two layers; the thin, grey outer layer is what exfoliates and flakes away, which exposes the smooth inner layer that can also be grey, or lean more towards brown.

One of the higher points of appeal of Crepe Myrtles is the wide range of sizes available.

On the smaller side, we have the dwarf varieties, which only grow around 2 feet high and make great shrubs or additions to garden beds; there are also miniature and bonsai sizes that you can keep in the house! The other side of the spectrum includes larger trees that reach heights of up to 30 feet—but don’t worry. If that sounds a bit intimidating to you, there’s always the average, medium-sized Crepe Myrtle that tops out at around 12 to 15 feet, or the semi-dwarf varieties that reach around 6 to 8 feet tall.

In addition to the different sizes, Crepe Myrtles are versatile in both shape and function.

Some people like to plant them closer together and encourage multiple trunks to create a living, flowering privacy fence. Others will prune back competing trunks to encourage a single leader for a more classic tree shape. The smaller sizes make a great frame for your front door, or even a potted plant on your back porch. You can cultivate your Crepe Myrtle into their trademark flower vase shape, a regular tree shape with a single trunk, or a hedge-like shape with lots of crooked trunks that makes a great border for your garden.

Whatever shape you go for, remember the   golden rule of pruning: don’t prune too much!

 A common misconception when it comes to Crepe Myrtles is that, in order to secure bountiful blooms for the next season, you need to chop off all branches down to the main trunk(s). This is not true, and often referred to in the arboreal world as Crepe Murder. Not only does a lobbed-off tree look sad, it’s also extremely unhealthy. All nutrients and energy will be channeled into new growth from the nubs, and while this new growth will bloom as desired, the blooms will be too heavy for the twigs they grow on, and will weigh them down until they break.

Thou shalt not murder, and that includes Crepe Murder!

When it comes to caring for your Crepe Myrtle, most have the same needs regarding resources like sun and water. They love the warmer weather and need at least 6 hours of full sun every day—the more sun exposure they get, the more blooms they’ll grow! They’re fairly drought-resistant once firmly established, but are nearly always thirsty when newly planted. Be sure to sufficiently water any new additions to your landscape twice a week until they’ve officially set up shop.

While we’ve already stressed the importance of avoiding Crepe Murder, it is still important to prune your tree, even if you’re not going for any particular shape or size. By trimming off dead and dying blooms, you can get new ones to take their place. If you’re diligent, you could end up with three or even four full blooms in one year! Whether you choose to do that or not, you’ll still want to be sure to trim off the dead blooms once fall rolls around, to ensure plenty of flowers next year. You can also trim the fruit if you like, to prevent the littering of seeds (and subsequent pavement staining). It’s recommended to trim away twiggy and cross growth on an established tree, mostly to keep the beautiful bark exposed and prevent overcrowding.

Did You Know?

The common Crepe Myrtle is a native of China and Korea. They call it The Lilac of the South.

So now that you’ve reached the end of this article, you’re probably thinking how much you’d like to plant a Crepe Myrtle or two in your backyard, or maybe by your front door, and you’re probably feeling put out that it’s summer now, and most trees need to be planted in the early spring. But never fear! While they do prefer to be planted in early spring, they can still survive a summer planting, so long as they are sufficiently watered.

If you do decide to grab yourself a new tree friend, be sure to read the tag thoroughly before you buy, so you get the exact size and color you want. There are many colors to choose from, and it would be a shame if you have your heart set on light pink blooms and you end up with dark red next year.

You’ll also want to double-check the size; you don’t want to end up with a 30-foot-tall, 20-foot-wide behemoth when you were hoping for a 2-foot dwarf bush in a planter. If you do intend on getting a larger tree, remember that it will need enough clearance to avoid power lines and buildings. You’ll also want to  account for the roots; Crepe Myrtle roots are usually flexible and soft, meaning they aren’t likely to grow through any pipes or break through your sidewalk, but they do spread pretty far and suck up water and nutrients like a vacuum, so they can present competition for other nearby flora.

Author

Emily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.

Sources:
Beginners Guide to Crepe Myrtles 
Crapemyrtle: Lagerstroemia Indica​
Crape Myrtle Trees​
Crepe Myrtle: Essential Southern Plant
Lagerstroemia