In 2010 we went to a yard sale and they had six crepe myrtle plants growing in a pot. The man wanted 50 cents for them. He said it was time to plant them so I came home and planted them. The first year they didn't do much but grow. Then, last year they had a few flowers but they grew quite a bit. This year they have a lot more flowers. Two of them are lavender and the rest are white. One got fenced in when we expanded the garden area. It must have gotten more water because it is a lot bigger than the others. Here are two views of the same lavender one and one smaller white one surrounded by the black eyed susans. crape myrtle is blooming! ( photo / image / picture from dooley's Garden ) The same one, different side. ( photo / image / picture from dooley's Garden ) and the white one. This is a small white crape myrtle. ( photo / image / picture from dooley's Garden ) dooley
The Crapes are all coming into bloom around here also. I think at some point, long time ago, it was mandatory for every house to have at least one of them! So glad they are doing well for you... but... that white one... are you sure it's a Crape Myrtle?
Yes, you just can't see it very well for those yellow flowers and the weeds that need pulled. It's crepe myrtle. dooley
We have two crepe myrtles here--both planted years ago before we bought the farm. One is white, the other pink. I must admit they are not my favorite shrub. I've never seen a bee on them, and they need constant maintenance to keep them in tree form (little sprouts come up at the base, and have to be trimmed off). However, they are a very low-maintenance shrub, bloom a couple of times a year, and grasshoppers don't eat them.
Jane... I have a soft spot for them. We've always had them around. I let them just grow as a tree. No maintenance... except last year one of them looked like it had some sort of fungus, so I trimmed it back quite a bit... it's doing great so far. I just love the color they provide... and all the childhood memories they bring back.
Cheryl, the fungus was probably powdery mildew, about the only thing that attacks Crepe Myrtles, except the idiots who commit "crepe murder" by hacking the heck out of the poor things! http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/crape_murder/crape_murder2a.jpg We all have soft spots for some plants--mine is for roses. I just can't resist a rose bush, and dearly love each and every one of them (except the Rugosas, who are totally thorny!).
