Lagerstroemia indica Monbazillac - Crape Myrtle

The Lagerstroemia indica 'Monbazillac' is a Indian Lilac with summer flowering in long panicles of beautiful light pink. It blooms consistently from mid-July to autumn. This very vigorous variety forms a bush with an erect habit. Its deciduous foliage, shiny green, takes on warm tones in autumn. It loves sun and heat. With multiple advantages, Indian Lilacs are among the most beautiful shrubs with summer flowering. As such, they deserve a prominent place in the garden or on the terrace.

The Lagerstroemia indica 'Monbazillac' belongs to the family Lythraceae. The Lagerstroemia indica, from which it originates, is native to China. The cultivar 'Monbazillac' was selected in 1987 at the Demartis nursery in Dordogne. This vigorous bush with an erect habit reaches a height of 3 to 5 m (9 ft 10 in to 16 ft 5 in) at maturity, with a diameter of about 3 m (9 ft 10 in). Its growth is quite rapid. Its flowering generally begins in July and extends until autumn. The flowers are characterised by thin pedicels, each bearing five wavy-edged petals that make up this flower. The flowers, with a texture reminiscent of crepe, are gathered in very long and dense panicles, at the end of the branches of the same year. In 'Monbazillac', the flowering is a light and bright phlox pink. The leathery and deciduous foliage is a shiny dark green. It comprises small ovate leaves, which sometimes take on pretty yellow or red hues in autumn depending on the climate. Lastly, its stunning bark is of a beautiful smooth, beige streaked with brown-red, peeling off in coloured flakes (cinnamon, faded red, old rose, cream).

Indian Lilacs are the pride of gardens, but it is when isolated, near the house, that you can fully enjoy its abundance. It will look good in a shrub bed, a flowering hedge, or emerging from a mound of perennials. Design a mixed bed with Campanula pyramidalis, Salvia sclarea, Aster laevis. In autumn, it is accompanied by asters as colourful as itself. In a large pot on the terrace, it puts on a show while summer flowering slows down.

NB: Karl Von Linne 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.