Crape-myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica · Lythraceae
📷 Gabriel Collares · CC BY 4.0
The gardener's calendar
Crape-myrtle is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Common name
- Crape Myrtle
- Family
- Lythraceae
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- June to September
- Adult height
- Approximately 2 m tall
- Growth
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Down to -10 °C approximately
- Origin
- Southeast Asia and China
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Lagerstroemia indica loves heat, sun, and well-drained soil; deadhead spent flowers to extend blooming.
The common mistake
Leaving faded flower clusters in place cuts short the summer bloom.
The pro's trick
Prune in late winter to keep a clear framework and boost flowering growth.
Seasonal watch
In humid autumn, reduce watering and check that the base doesn't stay waterlogged.
Care
Light exposure
Crape Myrtle requires a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to bloom abundantly. Plant it in full sun for the best flowering. Partial shade will significantly reduce flower production.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season (spring-summer), keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Allow it to dry slightly between waterings. In winter, reduce watering considerably as the plant goes dormant.
Pruning and maintenance
Prune in late winter or early spring before growth resumes. Remove dead wood and poorly oriented branches. Light pruning encourages rejuvenation and branching, which promotes denser flowering.
Soil
Crape Myrtle thrives in well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Avoid compacted and poorly aerated soils at all costs. Adding compost in spring improves soil structure and fertility.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced fertilizer or potassium-rich fertilizer in spring and early summer to support flowering. One or two applications are generally sufficient. Stop fertilizing in late summer to avoid stimulating new growth before winter.
Diseases and pests
Crape Myrtle is generally hardy. Watch for powdery mildew in conditions of excessive humidity and poor air circulation. Aerate the plant and avoid foliar watering in the evening. Scale insects and spider mites can occasionally cause damage in hot, dry climates.
Did you know?
Crape Myrtle is not a true lilac: despite its common name, it does not belong to the Oleaceae family from which classic lilacs (Syringa) originate. The name was given to evoke its spectacular beautiful summer flowering and small leaves. It is a highly valued shrub in Asia for centuries, where it symbolizes summer and adorns temples and landscape gardens.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.