Chapter 103 Lagerstroemia indica

103.1 Crape myrtle

A crape myrtle pruned in a mixed style combining bonsai and penjing features. The container is an example of a Chinese penjing container. Link to original image.

103.2 Soil: Moist Deciduous Mix

Ratio: 4 parts bark, 1 part grit

Add-ins: dolomitic limestone (~5 lbs/yd), Tree-Tone (15 lbs/yd)

pH: ~6.5 (slightly below neutral)

Moisture: Average moisture in growing season, barely moist in winter. Loves summer humidity.

103.3 Light

Routine: likes full sun in summer. Part shade in autumn will help with dormancy.

103.4 Cultivation Notes

103.4.1 Potting & Root Pruning

Repot in early spring.

103.4.1.1 Top & Branch Management

Crape myrtles flower on short shoots on the current year’s growth. They require special attention to pruning in order to maintain the flowers.

Heavy pruning: remove large branches and make major cuts in the fall. Seal wounds well so they do not get frost burned.

Fine pruning: allow new spring shoots to grow freely until they start to slow down and leaves harden. Clip the extension growth back to 2-3 leaves. The lateral buds will break and produce short flowering shoots.

103.4.2 Feeding

Switching from a 3:1:2 ratio fertilizer to a rose or tomato formulation will stimulate additional flowering.

103.4.3 Pests & Problems

In the Piedmont, crape myrtles are very susceptible to leaf-drop fungus. Trees that drop leaves in mid-summer should be sprayed with fungicide 3-4 times in the current year, and pre-treated before leaves start failing the following year.

Chemical Warnings: avoid spraying flowers with organic or synthetic chemicals. They are likely to burn and discolor.

103.4.4 Winter Storage

Store in mulch outdoors. Try to place in a shaded area so buds do not break in a mid-winter warm spell. Avoid letting them stay overly wet.

103.5 Propagation Notes

Crape myrtles are widely available from nurseries and garden stores.

103.6 Artistic & Styling Notes

103.7 Additional Information

103.7.1 Natural History

103.7.2 In Cultivation