Growing Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle)

Pronunciation: lag-er-stro'-mee-ah

This genus is comprised of about 50 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees. The Crape Myrtle has long been a staple of southern landscapes because it throws showy panicles of bloom over a long period in summer.

Grow Lagerstroemia in full sun and average garden soil. Crape Myrtles flower on the current season’s wood; prune as needed in late winter. At the limits of their hardiness (Zone 6), plants may suffer dieback over winter or be killed all the way back to the ground. Prune away dead wood as new growth emerges in spring.