Monday, August 16, 2010

Three Crepe Myrtles In the Garden

From In the Garden


Crepe myrtles and Japanese maples are my favorite small trees in the garden. I love them both and really can't choose one over the other because they both offer so much to the gardener and to the home. Here at Tiger Gardens we have about eighteen crepe myrtles but I'm only showing you three today

All of my crepes (ranging in size from two feet to 25+) were bought as markdowns at either Walmart, Lowes or Home Depot (which are my places to shop for plants). If I could I'd have more crepes in my garden. Why don't I have more crepe myrtles? I really don't have the right conditions for crepe myrtles here due to not having full sun on my property, but fortunately the Japanese maples don't mind the shaded conditions here and they do fairly well. I guess that fact alone helps to edge out the crepes for first place leaving the Japanese maples as my favorite small tree. It helps that the Japanese maples never show drought stress. Additionally, I've seen some stress in a few crepes this year but that is not a usual occurrence. Nonetheless, it is crepe myrtle season and I have never seen my few crepes looking better!

'Byer's Wonderful White' (pictured above) has to be one of my favorites due to its fabulous fall color. This small tree sited next to the road in a prominent spot out front positively glows orange in the fall. It is one of the few orange colored fall trees here in my garden. The white flowers are just an added bonus. This crepe is not to be confused with the more common 'Natchez' crepe myrtle (also growing here and a nice variety) because Natchez does not usually get such a brilliant orange color like the Byer's (at least not in my gardens). Other than that there doesn't seem to be any other differences because the flowers look similar on both trees.

From In the Garden
Here are two of the three red flowering crepes growing in my garden. This is the largest and best flowering year of all the crepes (I've been trying to grow these trees for more than six years now) in my garden and I am reminded each day what a good decision it was to plant them all. Every single crepe myrtle growing here was at one time a markdown. Most came from Walmart and were in 3 gallon pots marked down to as low as $2.50! I cannot pass up any tree at that price so I wound up with a good variety. I am not sure of the cultivars of the two red crepe myrtles pictured above but they are different and doing well in difficult situations. The red one right behind the chainlink fence is growing in a raised bed and has done fabulously! I never have to water it or the other red crepe behind and to the right of it. they both grow in mostly sun and gravelly soil that was at one time part of the driveway/parking area. Crepe myrtles are very drought tolerant but I've had to water a few this year though none in this post. I've found the ones I need to water are in mainly full sun and not as well established as these crepes I'm showing you today.

From In the Garden

Lastly I think I'll show my 'House Tree'. I debated planting a tree so close to the house but in the end my desire for some interest in this corner and on the southern side of the porch won out. I chose a crepe myrtle because normally these trees are small to medium sized and their root system is not so invasive that it would destroy a house foundation. This particular variety is 'Biloxi'. When I check any good reference on crepe myrtle cultivars I find 'Biloxi' is one of the largest crepe myrtles available. Oops. The tree has really grown the last few years. It's been growing in this spot since late 2003 and was a markdown purchase along with the 'Byer's Wonderful White'. I do have to limb up 'Biloxi' but pruning it has not been a major undertaking and the tree has not caused any problems with the house since I prune all limbs off from the house. I prune all my crepes here except one into the tree form. The one that is growing as a shrub is in the roadside border and is in very shaded conditions so I leave as many leaves as I can. The one thing I do not like about crepes being so close to the house is the fact that all the petals fall into the gutter. This was an unforeseen situation and I would warn anyone else out there thinking about planting crepes to consider where the petals will fall.

While 'Biloxi' is a very large crepe it has stayed in scale with the house and my fireplace due to the dormer providing a backdrop for this crepe myrtle. A bonus is the shade it provides to the porch, sidewalk, and foundation bed. Biloxi has sweet pink blooms and knock 'em dead mottled cinnamon bark. The 'Biloxi' tree trunk makes a great backdrop on the southern edge of the porch. I think this tree above any other landscaping within my garden is what really ties my house to my garden and vice versa. Hence, I have a 'House Tree'....or a 'Tree House'....

in the garden....

What kinds of crepe myrtles are your favorite and why?

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

23 comments:

  1. I love all of your crepes and love mine too, but I only have one kind and I don't know the name of it. It is a pink. Mine send up babies around the larger trees, so that I dig those up and spread them around. I've seen some luscious colors around town, but alas I'm not purchasing any plants these days, so I enjoy them in other gardens.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  2. Hey all, so sorry for the washed out looking pictures. Not sure why they look so faded:(

    Flowerlady, Such a bonus to get free plants from your mother plant. Transplanting them around will make for some nice continuity in your garden.

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  3. Here's a tree I'll never be able to grow as they're not hardy up here in my part of Canada. I saw them for the first time two years ago at Powell Gardens in Kansas City, Missouri, and loved them, but now I just have crape envy and get to admire those that my blogging buddies can grow.

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  4. Love the crape myrtles! I've never bought one though. All of mine came either from someone else or from a cutting. The neat one I added this year that I forgot to mention in my bloom day post was a dwarf crape. I found it at the plant swap. It was a seedling someone else had. I've since propagated a few more ;) - Do you have any space for one?

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  5. Hi Tina, Forgive me for not making more regular stops to your blog. I'm cheating myself out of lovely photos and prose.

    Beautiful Crapes you have! The last one, tall and stately next to your house, is just dazzling. I love the bark and how you've limbed it without butchering! And it is right in scale with your two-story house--not an easy feat!

    I've got two Crapes. One is a small tree no-label with hot pink flowers. The other a shrub form whose name eludes me. Both don't start blooming until late August into September in these parts. And with the excessive June rains this year, everything is behind schedule--no problem for me since I don't mind the wait.

    Great post!

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  6. I'm in love with them all and wish they were hardy up here.

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  7. So far, we've only got one crape. It was planted by the previous homeowner. I'm just not sure about planting any more of them, since there's some concern about their aggressive though not quite invasive status. I do love the crapes' beauty, though, and yours are especially lovely.

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  8. I love your house by the way. This same time last year, I was in Missouri and when I saw a crepe at MOBOT (keeping in mind we don't have crepes in MI), I was like--WHAT?? Why is a LILAC blooming in August?! Then when I got closer and read the sign I was like--So THESE are crepes, cool! And don't you love end of sesaon sales? I've gotten a ton of evergreen shrubs for $3.33 at Lowe's and HD.

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  9. Jodi, We are so lucky to be able to grow these queens. As a caveat for northerners, we can't grow the wonderful lilacs you can:)

    Dave, I have a couple of the dwarf crepes. I really like then but one or two died and I have no idea why. Right now the red and white one are doing fine. Do you know your color? The dwarf crepes are really great!

    Grace, Thank you so much for the very nice compliment on the house tree. I just love those hot pink crepes!

    Dawn, You have lilacs;)

    W2W, There are newer cultivars that are not as invasive and don't send up those root shoots. They are wonderful! I know of at least one cultivar called 'Pink Velour'. I picked it up on sale, had no room for it but planted it in my neighbor's yard and it is a stunner. I am waiting to see on the root shoots of it. So far here I've had a few seedlings from the Byer's, but none from others.

    Monica, Thanks. We simply adore our home and I'm glad you like it too. It is not so big or fancy, but so us and we spend a lot of time caring for it and the garden (okay-I spend a lot of time on the garden and hubby spends time on the house). Our house is 'unique' in that it is different from other houses on our street and has gardens! My husband says it has character-like us I guess. Many people call the crepes the southern lilacs-a fitting name since many folks from up north often mistake them for lilacs. They are awesome. I think there are breeders working on developing more cold hardy types so there is hope for northerners. In the meantime lucky you to be able to grow those wonderful lilacs. Crepes don't have fragrance:( A small downfall.

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  10. You are talking my language today girl. You know I love those Crepe Myrtles! We have about 20 of them on our property that were all planted by the previous homeowners. Of those a dozen do not thrive as they are in the shade and never bloom for us. Sigh...I love the long lasting blooms and they really pop in the south...

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  11. They are beautiful indeed, with flowers at the end of branches. I wish I have the space to grow them. So senduduk fits well here within space constraint....~bangchik

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  12. thanks for the lesson in crepe myrtles! they are quite abundant here in central texas. in fact, my mother-in-law bought three of them at home depot this year on clearance as well! we helped plant them in her yard late spring and they're doing great. can't wait to see them bloom. i really have no idea what sort they are, but after reading this, maybe i can figure that out!

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  13. Skeeter, You are most lucky to have such good previous homeowners to make good decisions with their property-you and the Saint benefit!

    Bangchik, Lovely flowers indeed!

    Joseph, Thanks so much for stopping by. I can't believe what spectacular pictures you have of the butterflies and insects on your blog-and you know them all. I don't know mine well at all-need to learn. I was most happy to see your butterfly weed-this tropical kind-you'll have many more monarchs. I'm with you on the mystery crepes-can't wait to see the bloom!

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  14. 18 Crepe Mertles! That is quite a collection. I wish they were hardy here in Canada. I think I like the rose colored one best. Pretty garden by the way!

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  15. Lovely Crepe Myrtles :) Wish I could grow them :(

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  16. So happy to see your post.
    I got my first crepe myrtle this year and just love it.
    Still have to learn about them...all I know it's blooming like crazy now for a month.

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  17. How lucky to be able to grow them and they all look so happy and healthy. Hard to believe the great prices they were. We were in Southern California last week and I spent lots of time admiring the Crapes there, my husband even asked what they were.

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  18. oh how I miss Crepe Myrtles! I never see them here ~ I guess that means they aren't hardy?? Yours are gorgeous. I just planted a serviceberry four feet from my house and I'm wondering about the wisdom of that! Maybe it will just be a "holding spot" until I can find a better one ~ I do worry about the roots interfering with the foundation too. Yours look pretty in that location but I can see where your gutters would get full. Love seeing your front garden in the pic too.
    I did buy a JM this spring ~ 'Bloodgood' ~ and it does not seem to like sun AT ALL. The leaves were burning and curling where I originally placed it. Now it's back on my patio while I decide where to try it next. Maybe yours do so well because they don't get tons of sun???

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  19. They're all my favorites, because I can't grow them here! Well, that's not true because Janet, the Queen of Seaford, told me once about a crepe myrtle that would grow in zone 5, but I haven't found it anywhere yet. I do like the tree next to your house; it really adds some vertical interest to your front garden.

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  20. Jennifer, thanks so much. Glad to see your blog going strong and most busy-lots of wonderful pictures.

    Joey, Thanks! For some crazy reason I always thought you were in Ohio or Pennsylvania. Michigan was furthest from my mind. You are a blogger who has been around a long time (most likely longer than me) so you'd think I'd know.

    Patsi, Do you know the cultivar of your crepe? Being in NJ your conditions are a bit colder then ours here I'd think. Another reader (Rose) might like to look for one. I'm wondering if yours is extra cold hardy. Here they say to Zone 6 but depending on variety they can be pushed.

    Catherine, You know it is a special tree when hubbies ask what kind it is. Hope you had lots of fun!

    Kathleen, No, I wouldn't think they'd be hardy in Colorado. Japanese maples are understory trees so shade is good for them. In more northern areas or in areas they get plenty of moisture they might do okay in full sun but siting them how they grow in their native home seems to makes sense and that is an understory. Hope you find a great spot for yours. Depending on what type serviceberry you have you may wish to move it regardless of the roots. Serviceberries, also understory trees I believe, can get large. I was going to say a weeping J. Maple might work near a foundation if you wish for a tree nearby-not Bloodgood though as that is a cultivar that will get large.

    Rose, Patsi is in NJ and she grows a crepe. I think they are breeding more and more cold hardy ones so keep a look out.

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  21. So jealous that you have so many Crepes in your garden Tina! I only have the one and it's planted close to my house as well. Need to add more, since I have tons of sunny spots in my front yard. That white one is a pretty one, I could use two of those in my front yard. :)

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  22. Tina I've never heard of crepe myrtles but yours look lovely. You grow an amazing assortment of plants. It is fun to visit your blog to see which exotic plant you are featuring next.

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  23. They look like a great small tree but I will have to only enjoy them on blogs but do wish I could have one.

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