Crepe Myrtle

Lagerstroemia

Sydney is adrift in a sea of soft pink, lilac, fuchsia, mauve, purple and white Crepe Myrtle blossoms right now. These delightful trees certainly put on a show for much of January as they are commonly planted on the city suburb’s streetscapes and in people’s front and backyards.

Lagerstroemia, is commonly known as Crepe Myrtle and there is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. They are native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, and other parts of Oceania including northern Australia.

The blooms are feminine with ruffled edges and a crepe-like texture. In autumn the green leaves (dependent on the variety) turn firstly yellow, then orange and red before falling. You will often see Crepe Myrtles severely pruned in winter and this is to encourage them to develop long, sweeping branches of flowers. Trees that are left unpruned, still quite often end up naturally growing into a pleasing shape and they develop smooth bark with attractive markings.

Crepe Myrtles grow well in most parts of Australia. You should keep them well watered in summer. They are also resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal disease. They really are one of the world’s most beautiful flowering trees.

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