Crepe Myrtle Plant Care

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) belongs to the Lythraceae family within the Lagerstroemia genus. Crepe Myrtle is native to Eastern Asia, China, Korea. Crepe Myrtle is also known as Crepeflower, Pride of India, Indian Lilac.

Crepe Myrtle displays a deciduous shrub growth habit, reaching up to 25 ft tall with a spread of approximately 15 ft. Crepe Myrtle produces showy summer flowers. white, purple, pink flower spikes.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Crepe Myrtle every 5–7 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Crepe Myrtle thrives in full sun.

Lagerstroemia indica tolerates temperatures of 60–115°F. Crepe Myrtle prefers humidity levels of 40–50%.

Well-draining soil. Loamy sand, clay. Good drainage is essential for Crepe Myrtle to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Crepe Myrtle every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining soil. Loamy sand, clay. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Crepe Myrtle is suited to USDA Zone 7a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Crepe Myrtle can spread to about 15 ft (4.6 m) and reach about 25 ft (8 m) tall. Space plants about 15 ft (4.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Crepe Myrtle while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Crepe Myrtle is hardy down to USDA zone 7a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Crepe Myrtle can be propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to small-fruited crapemyrtle plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Crepe Myrtle is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, powdery mildew. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Crepe Myrtle grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7a. Crepe Myrtle is native to Eastern Asia, China, Korea.