Plant Spotlight: Crape Myrtles in Charleston

Summer in Charleston means humid days, weekly beach trips, and streets lined with fluffy crape myrtle blooms! Lagerstroemias or crape myrtles are deciduous small trees or shrubs that flower through the summer and provide fall leaf color. This southern favorite thrives in our harsh, hot weather and blooms for a long period of time when other summer flowers start to fade. The flower and foliage color varies by variety and the fruit, small green to brown capsules, remains through the winter on bare branches. Crape myrtles in Charleston offer low maintenance beauty with easy summer and fall color!

Let's talk logistics! These small trees adapt well to confined spaces, meaning they are a great choice for small areas along sidewalks and parking lots. Plant them near your deck or patio for summer shade or use one as a specimen plant in your landscape. We love the look of the 'tuscarora' variety with it's arching branches and bold pink blooms for a statement in your Charleston garden. Crape myrtles want well-draining soil, full sun, and good circulation to avoid disease. If planted in more shade, they will be more susceptible to disease and produce less flowers. They are drought tolerant once established (typically after two years) but require more water when planted in confined areas.

Now that you know what your crape myrtle needs to thrive, let's talk about pruning. These trees should be pruned late winter to early spring (February is great time!) when they are dormant and branches are bare. Focus on removing dead wood, suckers, and crossing branches instead of cutting all branches to one height. This common but improper method of pruning or "topping" is typically done in an effort to maintain their small size, but it damages the tree and creates weak branches. Instead of over pruning, opt for new dwarf varieties! We are big fans of the 'purple magic' and 'ruffled red magic' hybrids for dwarf, compact disease resistant options.

If you're ready to add a crape myrtle to your space, browse our selection online now or come to the shop to pick your favorite!

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