Lagerstroemia indica Dynamite - Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica 'Dynamite', has flowers of a vibrant colour. This lovely deciduous and hardy bush is charming with its spreading and rounded habit, its dark foliage, red young shoots, decorative bark, and stunning cherry red summer flowers. Loving sun and heat, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful summer-flowering bushes. It deserves a special place in the garden. Planted in a large pot on the terrace, it will earn you compliments from everyone.

Lagerstroemia indica 'Dynamite' belongs to the Lythraceae family. Lagerstroemia indica, from which it originates, is native to China. This shrub has a bushy and branched habit, with a spreading and rounded crown. It reaches a height of 4m (13ft) and a diameter of 3m (10ft) at maturity. Its growth is quite fast. It starts flowering in July and continues until October. The flowers are characterized by fine pedicels each carrying five undulated-edged petals. The flowers, with a texture reminiscent of crepe, are gathered in large dense panicles at the end of the current year's branches. In 'Dynamite', the buds are crimson, then blooming into intense cherry red. The tough and deciduous, small ovate leaves start red, then turn dark green and shiny, sometimes taking on pretty yellow or red hues in autumn depending on the climate. Finally its bark is beautiful, smooth, beige striated with brown-red. and peels off in colourful patches (cinnamon, muted red, old rose, cream).

Dynamite will look good in a shrub bed or flowering hedge, or emerging from a mound of perennials. Create a bed like a bouquet, with Campanula pyramidalis, Salvia sclarea, Aster laevis. In autumn its colour accompanies the asters. In a large pot on the terrace, it puts on a show while the summer blooms slow down. Imagine a tricolor plant tapestry as a ground cover to highlight the Dynamite Summer Lilac. A weave of thyme, oregano, and silver baskets will dress the base of its trunk, accentuate its bark, and reflect its flowering.

NB: Karl Von Linné named this tree to pay tribute to his friend Magnus Von Lagestroem (1696 - 1759), who had sent it to him from India for identification. Originally, this tree was used to decorate Chinese temples. We would like to point out that this tree produces fruits with a narcotic effect if ingested.