Crepe myrtle, <em>Lagerstroemia</em>: which variety to choose?

Choose pruning: large or dwarf Lagerstroemia?

Largest lagerstroemias, for specimen planting

Best dwarf varieties, for container planting:

These lagerstroemias are impressive and majestic in silhouette. The largest can reach up to 9 m in height. They are best planted as specimens, for example in the middle of a short grass meadow, to showcase their architecture.

 

Some interesting varieties:

Lagerstroemia indica Indyvio Summer Violet - Crape Myrtle

This is a large lagerstroemia notable for its flowers tending towards violet, with yellow stamens. It is vigorous and bears dark green leaves, young red shoots, and superb bark.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 4,50 m

See the product sheet

 

Lagerstroemia Summer Charm Arapaho - Crape Myrtle

This lagerstroemia produces a lovely pink-red flowering, with foliage turning attractive colours in autumn. It is resistant to powdery mildew.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 6 m

See the product sheet

Lagerstroemia indica Summer Charm Tuscarora - Crape Myrtle

This variety produces red-pink flowers at first, then bright pink. Its young shoots are red.

• Flowering time August, September
• Height at maturity 5 m

See the product sheet

 

These lagerstroemias are perfect for planting in a small garden, in a courtyard, or in pots on a terrace.

Lagerstroemia indica Mardi Gras - Crape Myrtle

This lagerstroemia offers a delicate pink-mauve flowering. Its young leaves are red, then turn green, later taking on yellow or orange tones in autumn. Well suited to container growing, it can also be included in a perennial border or rockery.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

See the product sheet

Lagerstroemia indica Pixie White - Crape Myrtle

This lagerstroemia produces superb pure white flowering that stands out against its dark green foliage, which turns bronze in autumn.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

See the product sheet

Lagerstroemia indica Mimie Fuchsia - Crape Myrtle

This variety produces generous, vivid fuchsia flowering and has arched stems that give it a spreading, trailing habit.

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 1 m

See the product sheet

→ Find our advice sheet: Growing Indian Lilac (Lagerstroemia) successfully in containers.

Which garden style?

• For a romantic atmosphere

Lagerstroemia can be incorporated into a romantic garden, but in that case choose varieties with soft flowering, rather pale pink or white (Lagerstroemia ‘Camaïeu d’Eté’, or ‘Pixie White’…). Plant them alongside roses, clematis and hydrangeas. You will achieve a fresh, delicate atmosphere. You can include hardy geraniums and plants with silver foliage, such as artemisia or Stachys byzantina. For flowering, favour pale pink, white or mauve colours.

Lagerstroemia ‘Camaïeu d’Eté’, Artemisia stelleriana ‘Silver Brocade’, and Perovskia atriplicifolia Filagran (photo F. D. Richards)

→ Also read : 7 Lagerstroemia with pink flowers

• For an exotic border

Lagerstroemias whose flowers take on a stronger hue — deep pink or red (for example, Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’, or ‘Black Solitaire Red Hot’…) — fit easily into exotic-style borders. Pair them with spectacular flowering of bougainvillea, which also take vivid hues and can be trained up the façade of your house. Also include phormiums, cordylines and palms. Consider the castor oil plant, which has large palmate leaves, often purplish. You can also add flowers such as agapanthus, crocosmias, cannas or eucomis.

In a similar style, you can create a Mediterranean-inspired garden, with santolina, lavender and euphorbias.

Lagerstroemia ‘Black Solitaire Red Hot’, Canna ‘Brilliant’ (photo Steven Bemelman – iBulb), and Musa basjoo

For foliage: most beautiful Lagerstroemias with dark leaves

Some lagerstroemias have the particularity of offering very dark, almost black foliage, which makes their often lighter flowering stand out. Discover notably the ‘Black Solitaire’ series:

Lagerstroemia indica Black Solitaire Crimson Red - Crape Myrtle

This lagerstroemia has a very exotic look, with its black leaves and red flowers. Everything becomes much more intense with this beautiful bush!

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Lagerstroemia indica Black Solitaire Pure White - Crape Myrtle

White flowering on this lagerstroemia creates a superb contrast with its dark foliage. Flower buds take on a beautiful deep red shade, and flowers have undulating, crinkled petals.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Lagerstroemia indica Black Solitaire Purely Purple - Crape Myrtle

This very original variety offers both almost black leaves and violet flowers! It is surprising and truly different from lagerstroemias usually seen.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

For early flowering:

There are early-flowering lagerstroemias that allow you to enjoy their flowers from early summer. Some can flower as early as June, others from early July.

Lagerstroemia indica Camaïeu dEte Indycam - Crape Myrtle

This is a small lagerstroemia that offers gentle flowering in soft mauve. It also has superb bark.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 2,25 m

See the product sheet

Lagerstroemia indica Braise dEté Indybra - Crape Myrtle

This lagerstroemia produces flowers of a very intense, deep rose-purple hue. It shoots quickly and has the advantage of being not very susceptible to powdery mildew.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 3,50 m

See the product sheet

By contrast, lagerstroemias ‘Red Imperator’, ‘Rhapsody in Pink’, ‘Summer Charm Acoma’, etc., flower later. Generally from August through October.

For trailing or groundcover habit:

Some varieties stand out for their trailing form, more or less spreading, thanks to their arched branches.

Lagerstroemia indica Mardi Gras - Crape Myrtle

A small Lagerstroemia that, over time, develops a spreading and slightly trailing habit. It has a light pink – mauve flowering.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

See the product sheet

Lagerstroemia indica Mimie Fuchsia - Crape Myrtle

It has a beautiful bright pink flowering! It can be trained as a standard to form a straight, erect trunk, from which its branches trail, giving it a weeping habit. It can also form a very spreading groundcover.

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 1 m

See the product sheet