How to grow crape myrtles from seed?
- Be sure to research the average size of the species you're planting so you'll know how much space you can expect it to take up.
- If you're planting your crepe myrtles near a fenceline or retaining wall, make sure you leave at least 3 feet (0.91 m) of intervening space. ...
- You can also plant double rows to create a privacy screen or wind cover. ...
How to grow and care for Acoma crape myrtle?
That said, there are some times that you may wish to prune:
- Prune a younger plant to encourage the form that you desire. ...
- Removing spent flowers after they finish to tidy the plant. ...
- If you want to keep your plant at a shrubbier sort of size and form, cut it back as hard as desired while bare in winter.
- During winter, remove any excessively twiggy growth, as this tends to be non-productive.
What color is Natchez crape myrtle?
What color is Natchez crape myrtle? The Natchez Crape Myrtle has leaves that are glossy dark green in the summer and in the fall they turn a vibrant orange-red. Each summer the Natchez Crape Myrtle exfoliates its dark cinnamon-brown colored bark in thin strips to expose a smooth and cream colored bark.
How to grow the dwarf crape myrtle plant?
Part 2 of 3: Planting the Crepe Myrtle Download Article
- Dig a hole roughly three times as wide as the root ball. Scoop out the loose soil on the site you tilled previously.
- Place the root ball inside the hole. Extract the crepe myrtle from its nursery pot and lower it into the hole.
- Fill in the hole. Push the remaining soil in around the roots and trunk. ...
- Plant multiple crepe myrtles in rows. ...
See more
What is the smallest crape myrtle tree?
Dwarf varieties only grow to a height of 4 feet or less. Semi-Dwarf varieties grow 4 to 8 feet tall. Large or Tree Crapemyrtle reaches a height of 10 to 20 feet.
Can a crepe myrtle be kept small?
It is easy to keep a crepe myrtle small. However, it's also easy to overzealously prune the tree, which can severely damage it. It's best not to prune the tree too aggressively and to prune no more than a third of it at a time.
What is a miniature crape myrtle?
Although crape myrtles are often grown as the centerpiece of a small lawn or as a hedge shrub, crape myrtles are also available in a number of miniature cultivars that are suitable for smaller spaces, container gardening and even ground cover. Miniature Weeping Crape Myrtles will grow 18 – 24 inches tall.
How do you take care of a dwarf crepe myrtle?
How to Care for Crape MyrtleFind Full Sunlight. Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive. ... Use Suitable Soil. ... Fertilize Lightly. ... Treat Fungus Before It Starts. ... Prune Sparingly in Winter or Early Spring. ... Expose the Trunk for More Beauty. ... Deadhead for Even More Flowers.
How big do miniature crepe myrtles grow?
Miniature varieties are also available and these will grow to approx 1m by 1m, which makes then great for growing in containers. Most varieties have great flowers, interesting bark and once established relatively drought tolerant.
What does a small crepe myrtle look like?
Important Species of Crape Myrtle The leaves are small, oval in shape and dark green. In fall the foliage turns spectacular shades of yellow, orange and red before falling, leaving bare branches that are attractively mottled with multi-colored bark in shades of pink, cream and gray.
How fast do dwarf crepe myrtles grow?
In fact, the 25-30 foot trees might grow three to five feet in a single year, while a small dwarf shrub might only grow four to six inches in a season. The environmental conditions can also impact Crape Myrtle's growth rate. These beauties do best in well-drained (but moist) soil and full sunlight.
How do you grow small crepe myrtles?
Find a Sunny Location. Decide where in your garden the crape myrtle should go. ... Choose a Variety. Choose a variety that won't outgrow its space or need to be constantly pruned. ... Dig a Hole. Dig a hole three to four times as wide as the container. ... Plant the Tree. ... Water Gently. ... Mulch with Pine Straw.
Do dwarf crepe myrtles have invasive roots?
Crepe Myrtle Root System: Are Crepe Myrtle Roots Invasive You don't have to worry about this issue because crepe myrtle tree roots are not invasive.
What is the difference between a crepe myrtle bush and a crepe myrtle tree?
The difference between the crape myrtle bush and the crape myrtle tree is that the tree is taller than crape myrtle bush. Crape myrtle bushes have multiple stems and their height is between 2 and 15 ft. (0.6 – 4.5 m). Crape myrtle trees can be as much as 20 ft.
Can I plant crepe myrtle close to House?
Tip. You can plant crape myrtle near the foundation as they have non-invasive roots, according to Dayton Nursery. However, be sure to plant them far enough away from the foundation and the building so the shrub can grow to its full size without being blocked by the building.
What time of year is best to plant crepe myrtles?
Late fall to early spring is the best time to plant. First, learn some information about the lifespan and growth of your tree. Crepe myrtles range in size from dwarf selections (less than three feet tall) to some that can reach as tall as 30 feet.
How Can I Use Dwarf Crape Myrtles in My Garden?
While the place for a large crape myrtle is likely out on your lawn, the dwarf varieties fit perfectly into shrub beds. Most garden shrubs bloom in spring, and beds start to look dull and green by July.
Growing Dwarf Crape Myrtles
The great thing about these plants is how easy they are to grow. Full sun is the first essential – research how shown how quickly even a little shade for a couple of hours a day will reduce blooming. This is also why they grow so well in areas with long, sunny summers. Outside of that, all you need is well-drained soil.
Some Dwarf Crape Myrtles
Here are some newer varieties of dwarf plants that fit the bill perfectly.
How to make a crape tree with 3 different colors?
A secret way to amaze your neighbors: Plant 3 different colored Crapes in the same hole with the root-balls touching. Take a piece of string and tie the 3 stems together so they are touching. In 2-3 years the stems will actually fuse together to become 1 tree with 3 different colored flowers.
Do crape myrtles like heat?
Crape myrtles love sun and heat. Here in the south they have emerged from dormancy and have even begun to set their first summer flowers. If you're in a Northern area, you may have to wait a few more weeks. But don't worry, they'll also emerge with lots of new green leaves and a promise of summer long blooms!
How tall is a dwarf crepe myrtle?
A dwarf crepe myrtle can benefit from a specifically formulated fertilizer. Averaging 6 to 15 feet in height (2 to 4.5 m), the dwarf crepe myrtle is one of several types of myrtle trees or shrubs from the genus Lagerstroemia. Also spelled " crape myrtle," the dwarf crepe myrtle is smaller than the typical crepe myrtle, ...
How many species of crepe myrtles are there?
There are more than 50 species of crepe myrtles, with the dwarf and miniature varieties preferred for smaller spaces.
How much sunlight does a dwarf crepe myrtle need?
The main requirement for caring for myrtle shrubs is sunlight. To ensure bountiful blooms, a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight is needed. The dwarf crepe myrtle is drought -tolerant; however, regular watering will aid with the plant’s growth and healthy appearance.
Is a dwarf crepe myrtle a flowering plant?
Like its larger counterparts, the dwarf crepe myrtle is a fast-growing flowering plant.
Is a dwarf crepe myrtle bigger than a miniature?
Also spelled " crape myrtle," the dwarf crepe myrtle is smaller than the typical crepe myrtle, but larger than the miniature crepe myrtle. Although the dwarf is generally larger than the miniature, their names are often used interchangeably. Many of the species originated from Asian regions, and the crepe myrtle family is primarily comprised ...
Can a dwarf crepe myrtle grow in a container?
Depending on the size and the variety, crepe myrtles can be grown as a tree, shrub, or container plant. The dwarf crepe myrtle is well-suited for small landscapes, ground cover, and containers, and it can be trained to form a bonsai.
How tall do crepe myrtles grow?
Crepe myrtles they said would grow 10 to 15 feet tall ended up growing 20 to 30 feet tall. Which meant that many crepe myrtles grew too big for the spots they were in and homeowners started chopping off their heads every spring. (To see how to correctly prune a large crepe myrtle, click right here .) What Went Right.
When did crepe myrtles get shot in the arm?
What Went Wrong. Crepe murder -- the grisly rite of chopping crepe myrtles into ugly stumps -- really got a shot in the arm about 20 to 30 years ago, when the first mildew-resistant hybrids with native American names ('Natchez,' 'Muskogee,' 'Tuscarora,' etc.) were introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum.
What is the best purple dwarf?
The best purple dwarf. 'Pocomoke' -- Bright-pink blooms and deep green foliage on a mounding shrub that grows 2 to 3 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide. Great in pots. Razzle Dazzle Series -- Mounding shrubs 3 to 4 feet tall and wide come in a wide range of colors. Do great in containers.
Is there Neanderthal DNA in crepe myrtles?
No, it's not too much Neanderthal DNA. It's that the variety of crepe myrtle they planted got way too big. Here's a guide to which crepe myrtles won't outgrow your house or yard, so you won't have to chop them grotesquely each year. What Went Wrong.
What genus is a crape myrtle?
Crape myrtle trees, bushes, and dwarf shrubs are in the plant genus Lagerstroemia. The bushy shrubs and trees have deciduous or evergreen foliage. But it’s their spectacular clusters of flowers that are the main attractions.
How tall does a crape myrtle grow?
The ‘Chickasaw’ crape myrtle is a miniature shrubby plant that produces light pink flowers when in bloom. This crape myrtle species is a slow-growing plant that takes about seven years to reach its mature height of 2 ft. (0.6 m). ‘Chickasaw’ crape myrtles have leathery green leaves and pinkish-lavender flowers that bloom from summer until frost.
What is the color of the panicles on a crape myrtle tree?
The masses of deep pink flower clusters on the ‘Tuscarora’ crape myrtle cover the tree. The flower panicles are made up of crepe-papery flowers that hold their color for all summer and fall.
What is the best color for a crape myrtle?
Crape myrtle trees and bushes come in a wide range of colors, including shades of white, pink, red, and purple. Some of the best pink crape myrtle cultivars are ‘Chickasaw,’ ‘Delta Blush,’ and ‘Pink Velour.’ The best red crape myrtles are ‘Tonto,’ ‘Raspberry Sundae,’ and ‘Red Rocket.’ The best white crape myrtles are ‘Natchez,’ ‘Acoma,’ and ‘New Snow.’
How tall do dwarf crape myrtles get?
Dwarf crape myrtle trees are large shrubs that are perfect for compact gardens. Typically, dwarf myrtle trees grow between 6 and 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall. Species of dwarf myrtle trees can be single-trunked specimens with a large spreading crown. The most popular dwarf crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Acoma,’ is a multi-stemmed shrub-like tree with masses of white flowers and a rounded spreading crown.
Where do monum crape myrtles get their name?
The ‘Monum’ crape myrtle gets its common name—petite plum—from its dwarf growth nature and showy plum-colored flowers. The clusters of ruffled purplish-pink flowers bloom for a long time throughout the summer. Due to the shrub’s small size, it’s ideal for planting in containers, in the front of the house, along borders, or as an informal hedge.
When do pink velvet crape myrtles bloom?
From all the crape myrtles on this list, ‘Pink Velour’ is one of the longest blooming varieties. The landscaping tree starts blooming in mid-summer, and the vibrant flowers last well into late fall.
