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The crape myrtle is an outstanding ornamental with a long blooming season of showy flowers and a winter season of dramatic architectural beauty highlighted by distinctive exfoliating bark. That’s why it is a featured plant at Lavalette Nursery and Garden Center.
The common name of this plant is crape myrtle -- not crepe myrtle. It is called this because the flowers have crinkly petals that resemble the material called crape.
Crape myrtle likes moist soil, where it will grow exceedingly fast, but it tolerates dry conditions once established. Severe pruning distorts the architectural beauty of the free-growing crape myrtle. Pruning is recommended only to remove overly dense branches, crossing limbs and suckers. Cutting off old flower heads in summer can promote a second and third round of flowering, though. Do not over-fertilizing or you’ll get abundant foliage at the expense of blooms.
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Depending on variety, crape myrtles grow as large shrubs or as trees that may be either upright or spreading. The tree variety is rare in this region, where you’ll usually see them as large shrubs. Large varieties are very fast growing and can put on several feet in a single growing season. Many types have interesting bark that exfoliates in thin flakes, exposing lovely cinnamon or gray inner bark. 
Many of our most popular crapes myrtle varieties available for sale these days are hybrids. The U.S. National Arboretum created a series of these hybrids known as the Indian Tribe group, named for Native American tribes and noted for mildew resistance and improved hardiness. 
Choose plants in summer while they are blooming so you can pick just the shade of color that you are looking for. A single crape myrtle is a magnificent specimen in the middle of a lawn. Multiple crapes, especially of the same color but different heights, can be quite effective. A cluster of crapes planted close together can provide a flowering canopy in summer and a study in texture during winter months.
