Crapemyrtle, The Flower of the South

Crape myrtle or Lagerstroemia indica is one of the most useful flowering shrubs/trees grown in the Southern United States. Some longtime planters of the tree call crapemyrtle the Flower of the South. It is not limited to the soutthern United States and is frequently used in the California landscape and some cold-hardy varieties have been planted in northern states.

The reason it is such a popular tree is it provides abundant summer color with a minimum of maintenance. Horticulturists say crape myrtle should be used more often in the home landscape and as street trees in community developments. Crape myrtle is long-lived, tolerates droughts after becoming established, and is relatively free of disease and insects. Colors range from red and pink to lavender and white.

Here are trees I see everyday when I walk through my Montgomery, Alabama neighborhood during the summer. Crapemyrtle is truely a Southern beauty.