Other Names:  Queens Crape Myrtle, Pride of India, Crepe-myrtle

Description:

This stunning, multi-stemmed tree, produces volumes of bright pink to lavender frilly blooms in summer; attractive green foliage turns vibrant red-orange in fall; excellent as a landscape specimen

Ornamental Features

Giant Crapemyrtle is blanketed in stunning panicles of pink frilly flowers with lavender overtones at the ends of the branches from mid spring to mid summer. It has green deciduous foliage. The glossy oval leaves turn outstanding shades of red and orange in the fall. However, the fruit can be messy in the landscape and may require occasional clean-up.

Landscape Attributes

Giant Crapemyrtle is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Giant Crapemyrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting & Growing

Giant Crapemyrtle will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 40 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.