Lagerstroemia indica Nivea - Crape Myrtle

The Lagerstroemia indica 'Nivea' is a robust and vigorous Indian Lilac, endowed with a remarkable white flowering in the second part of summer. This old selection, which naturally forms a small tree, can also be pruned regularly to form a large bush that has its place in a flowering hedge. Patiently and meticulously pruned, it will grow on a trunk and form a very beautiful subject to plant in a container to decorate the terrace or balcony. It also charms with its flamboyant autumn leaves and its decorative bark. This late flowering variety craves sun and heat. Endowed with multiple assets, the Indian Lilacs are among the most beautiful summer flowering bushes. As such, they deserve a prime spot in the garden or on the terrace.

The Lagerstroemia indica 'Nivea' is a fairly old cultivar, which has the vigour and ease of cultivation of its ancestor from the warm regions of China. It is a small tree or a large bush from the Lythraceae family. It presents a bushy and ramified habit, with an open and rounded crown. It will reach on average 3m (9 ft 10 in) in height at ripeness, for a spread of 2.75 m. Its growth is quite rapid. It needs heat to flower and often chooses the month of August to start its flowering, which will continue throughout the month of September. The flowers are characterized by thin pedicels each carrying five undulate-edged petals. The flowers, whose texture is reminiscent of crepe, are gathered in large very dense panicles, 17 to 20 cm (6.7 to 7.9 in) long, erect at the end of the year's branches. In 'Nivea', the buds are green, then they blossom into pure white with yellow stamens. The deciduous foliage, leathery, is born reddish, then becomes a quite light and shiny green. It is composed of small ovate leaves, which take on pretty ochre, salmon to red hues in autumn, before falling. Finally, the bark of this beautiful plant is magnificent on old subjects: smooth, beige striate with brown-red, it peels off in beautifully coloured plates (cinnamon, faded red, old pink, cream).

Indian Lilacs make the glory of the gardens of the South-West, as they prefer humidity and warmth. If placed in isolation, near the house, you can fully enjoy the generosity of this small tree. It will also look good in a bush massif, a flowering hedge, or emerging from a mound of perennials. In a flowering hedge, associate it for example with Kolkvitzia amabilis, lilacs, buddleias, flowering apple trees and Japanese quinces to stagger the flowerings.  In autumn, this plant will accompany the deciduous and equally colourful euonymus and cotinus. In a large pot on the terrace, this plant puts on a show while the summer flowerings are slowing down. We have simply imagined a tricolour plant tapestry as ground cover to highlight the Summer Lilac 'Nivea'. A cradle of Red Cascade ground cover roses and Valerie Finnis mugwort, punctuated by small tufts of catnip and red carnations, will dress the base of its trunk, underline its bark and accompany its dazzling flowering.

The Indian Lilac also has many other evocative and charming names: muslin flower, crepe myrtle, lagerose, Chinese crinkled myrtle, crepe paper flower...

NB: Karl Von Linnaeus 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 that have a narcotic action if ingested.