How tall do crepe myrtle trees grow

The common crapemyrtle grows to a height of 15–25′ and a spread of 6–15′ at maturity.

Where is the best place to plant a crepe myrtle?

Crape Myrtle Trees need plenty of sun, so choose a bright sunny spot for your planting. They are idea for those hot, dry places where other plants do not thrive, so take advantage of that and use them in places that can be hard to fill.

Can you plant a crepe myrtle near your house?

You can plant crape myrtle near the foundation as they have non-invasive roots, according to Dayton Nursery. However, be sure to plant them far enough away from the foundation and the building so the shrub can grow to its full size without being blocked by the building.

Is crepe myrtle a fast growing tree?

In general, crape myrtles grow at a medium to fast growth rate at about 1-2 feet per year. Hence where they get their nickname – fast growing trees!

What is the difference between a crepe myrtle bush and a crepe myrtle tree?

The difference between the crape myrtle bush and the crape myrtle tree is that the tree is taller than crape myrtle bush. Crape myrtle bushes have multiple stems and their height is between 2 and 15 ft. … Crape myrtle trees can be as much as 20 ft. (6 m) taller than the bushes.

Are crape myrtle trees messy?

Crape myrtles also require pruning to promote the new growth needed for blooming, to reveal the bark, and to keep the shrub or tree tidy. Moreover, with its flowers, leaves and peeling bark, crape myrtles can be messy to care for. Be prepared for plenty of raking and clean-up.

What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?

Many varieties have beautiful bark and growth habits that can be enjoyed all year if trees are not heavily pruned. This unsightly, ugly pruning known as crape murder is not recommended. Once it’s done, it ruins the tree’s graceful natural shape for the rest of its life.

Do crepe myrtle trees shed their bark?

As all Crepe Myrtles grow and mature, they shed last year’s bark, revealing a colorful, mottled bark beneath. … Because the Crepe Myrtle is a deciduous tree, it sheds all its leaves during the winter, leaving behind the beautiful bark on the tree which makes it a centerpiece in many winter landscapes.

Do crape myrtles have invasive roots?

Crepe myrtle trees are lovely, delicate trees offering bright, spectacular flowers in the summer and beautiful fall color when the weather begins to chill. … You don’t have to worry about this issue because crepe myrtle tree roots are not invasive.

How long does it take a crape myrtle to mature?

This myrtle, like all myrtles, thrives in full sunlight and moist but well-draining soils. It has a maximum height of between 15 to 30 feet, which means it will take between about five to 10 years to reach maturity.

Article first time published on

Are crape myrtles good for privacy?

Crape Myrtles are a beautiful choice when deciding what to plant. … You will receive well branched plants that will quickly become a thick, bushy and blooming privacy shield.

How long do crape myrtles live?

Crepe myrtles live quite a few years if you take care of them. A crepe myrtle lifespan can exceed 50 years. So that’s the answer to the question “how long do crepe myrtle trees live?” They can live a good, long time with suitable care.

What time of year do you plant crepe myrtles?

Late fall to early spring is the best time to plant. But a lot of folks buy and plant their crepe myrtle in summer because they select it while it is blooming. That works too, but watering well during the summer months is crucial to transitioning it into your garden.

How many trunks should a crape myrtle have?

For most crape myrtles, choose three, five, or—at most—seven main trunks. An odd number of trunks is more pleasing to the eye than an even number, which often looks like soldiers in formation. Keep trunks that have ample space to grow and are growing straight and strong.

How tall is a 15 gallon crape myrtle?

General Garden Use. Tuscarora Crapemyrtle will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines.

Do crape myrtles smell?

Crape Myrtles are TREES and that means they grow TALL from 20 – 40′ in height. They have been lovingly referred to as the Lilac of the South (with no fragrance) with a very long bloom time in the summer.

What age do crepe myrtles bloom?

Most years, crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June. Flowering continues for 90-120 days depending on the variety. You may sometimes see crape myrtles not blooming well.

What if my crepe myrtle is too tall?

If your crape myrtle does become too tall for its location, you can prune the tree back to a more appropriate height– just don’t make this a regular practice each year. It will take a little more time to prune correctly, but you will end up with a beautiful tree.

What can you plant under a crape myrtle?

• Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) The Rose of Sharon bush perfectly compliments a crepe myrtle tree. …
• Creeping lilyturf (Liriope spicata) The roots of your crepe myrtle tree are very shallow. …
• Lantana. …
• Hibiscus. …
• Rain Lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora) …
• Coreopsis.

How far should a crepe myrtle be from the house?

Plant large type crape myrtles a minimum of 6ft away from a structure (house, etc). To create a look where the canopies of the plants will grow together and provide shade, plant Medium Crape Myrtles 6′-10′ apart, and Standard (Tree) Crape Myrtles 8′-12′ apart.

Are crape myrtles good trees?

The taller varieties of Crape Myrtle make excellent deciduous screening plants. Not only are they rapid-growing, deer-resistant, drought-resistant and adaptable to most soils, they will be covered all summer long in glorious blooms. Instead of an ugly view you will have beautiful flowers.

How hard is it to dig up a crepe myrtle?

Moving crepe myrtles requires a bit of digging. First, dig out a new planting hole. It has to be large enough to fit all of the tree’s current roots, but somewhat wider, to allow those roots to expand. … Dig around the outside of the roots, taking a root ball that is some 2 to 3 feet (.

Do crepe myrtles attract bees?

Flowers on ‘Seminole’, ‘Victor, and ‘Apalachee’ crape myrtles attracted the most bees. Although crape myrtles are attractive to pollinators, they are prone to a few pest problems for which systemic insecticides are sometimes applied.

Do crepe myrtles lose their leaves in winter?

Since the crepe myrtle is a deciduous tree, it sheds all its leaves in the winter, leaving behind the beautiful bark on the tree, which makes it a prized tree in many yards.

What are the tiny white bugs on my crepe myrtle?

Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (let’s call it CMBS) is a small insect that appears as a white or gray felt-like encrustation. CMBS might be found anywhere on crapemyrtles, and often appears near pruning sites and branch crotches of more mature wood.

Is crape myrtle evergreen?

Leaves. Crape myrtles are a group of deciduous trees and shrubs, while wax myrtles include evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs and trees. … Crape myrtles offer brilliantly-colored foliage in fall until the first hard frost of the season.

Do deer eat crepe myrtles?

They are winter hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9. Though the hungriest deer will eat plants not characteristic of its regular diet, deer will seldom eat any variety of crape myrtle.

How fast do wax myrtle trees grow?

Wax myrtle often exhibits growth of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m.) a year. As a shrub it has a rounded, narrow form and is attractive when limbed up for use as a small tree. Use the wax myrtle tree in mixed shrub borders and as shade for the deck or patio.

Is crepe myrtle poisonous to dogs?

Many beautiful plants contain toxins that present a danger to puppies and other animals. However, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that crepe myrtle is perfectly safe and non-toxic for animals, as well as humans.

How many times a year do crepe myrtles bloom?

You Really Can Have Two Bloom Cycles on Crepe Myrtles. Some years, the first bloom cycle of crepe myrtles lasts a month or more. Other years, it seems to go away far too soon.

How much sun does a crape myrtle need?

To help your crape myrtle look its very best… Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive. With less sunlight, blooms will not be as prolific and their colors may be diminished. These plants are not demanding about the pH of their soil, though neutral or slightly acidic soils are best.