This hardy small deciduous tree has erect mottled stems with spreading branches that form an open vase habit. It has dark green elliptical leaves and the profuse pink, lavender or white flowers appear in a cluster during summer.

Hardiness zones 6 to 11

Lagerstroemia indicais naturally found in China growing in open grasslands or along forest margins at low altitudes.

It prefers a well drained moderately fertile moist sandy to clay soil that is tending acidic with a pH range from 5.0 to 6.5 and grows in an open sunny to semi shaded position and is frost tolerant and drought tender when young.

Crepe Myrtle is grown for its flowers, spreading crown and attractive bark. It is planted in small gardens or parks along borders for screening or as a specimen. It is also used in street plantings or grown in courtyards for summer shade. It establishing in 2 to 4 years and is long lived and is suitable for coastal and inland regions. It may be trained into a small tree or kept low with an annual prune that encourages more flowers. There are many cultivars available with varying flower colour. ID 92

Lagerstroemia(lahg-er-STREEM-ee-a) indica(IN-de-ka)

'Lagerstroemia': after Swedish amateur botanical collector Magnus von Lagerstrom; 'indica': of India.

Lythraceae (ly-THRAY-see-ee)
Loosestrife, Pomegranate, Water Chestnut, Crepe Myrtle, Mangrove Apple