Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) – Description & Uses

Leaf Persistence
Deciduous
Form
Shrub or Small Tree
Texture
Medium
Growth Rate
Moderate

Flowering Period (Northern Hemisphere)
June – September
Fruiting Period
Autumn – Winter
Height
8-15 m (26-50 ft)
Diameter
5-8 m (16-26 ft)

Leaves Shape
Ovate, Obovate
Foliage Colour
Green
Autumn Foliage Colour
Yellow, Redish Orange, Red

Flowers Shape
Tubular with Crepe Petals
Flowers Colour
Pink
Fruit
Brown Capsule

Soil Type: Excellent drainage, moist, heavy loam to clay
Soil pH: 5-7.5
Watering: Moderate
Exposure: Sun
Hardiness: −17 °C (0 °F – USDA Hardiness Zone 7a)

Specimen, hedges, mixed hedges, urban planting, tree rows, pots and containers

The name of the genus Lagerstroemia is the Neo-Latin version of the Swedish surname Lagerström. Magnus von Lagerström (1696-1759) was a friend of Charles Linnaeus, but also the director of the Swedish East India Company.

Thanks to this position, he was able to supply the great Swedish botanist with numerous new plant species, expanding his systematic scope of study.

Although Lagerström himself never traveled to personally collect new and rare plant species for the then Western World, this did not prevent Charles Linnaeus from giving his friend’s surname to the genus.

The name of the species indica, is a Neo-Latin word whose meaning is from India, Indian.

It is probably given by mistake, as either Charles Linnaeus believed that all the plants supplied to him by his friend – hence Lagerstroemia – came only from the Indian Subcontinent, which is not the case, because in fact they were collected and from other parts of the wider Far East, or that the species originates from India, which is also not the case, as it does not reflect the actual birthplace of the plant.

However, it is worth noting at this point that the great systematist Carl Linnaeus was sufficiently geographically illiterate, as it is well known that he had a vague idea of China’s geographical location, since, according to him, it often coincided with that of India.

And in this regard -unfortunately- he resembled the great adventurer and navigator Christopher Columbus, son of Domenico and Susanna.

Far from India, the roots – metaphorically speaking – of the species are located in China and Korea. From there it spread to many areas of the temperate, tropical and subtropical zone either naturally or thanks to the plant lovers who appreciated the exceptional beauty of the plant and spread it.

The Crapemyrtle in its natural habitats grows in wooded areas and semishaded places, on forest edges, along rivers, in areas of bush vegetation, as well as in grasslands.

It is found in a variety of climatic types, which include both tropical and steppe areas, where the mean annual rainfall is between 1200 to 2400 mm, while the mean annual temperature is between 5 and 28 °C (41-82 °F).

In terms of altitude, its populations are located from quite low up to 1500 m.

The plant sometimes proves a great invasive ability and therefore we must not fail to mention here, that the joy for the spread of the species was not shared by all in all areas where it was grown as an ornamental.

Among those who did not enjoy it were all those states that have declared it an extremely invasive plant, including South Africa, Belize, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Despite rumors and whispering that Lagerstroemia indica lives only 50 years, in fact the plant, under ideal conditions, can live up to a century and a half.

The Crapemyrtle is a perennial deciduous shrub or small tree of moderate growth rate and vase-shaped or inverted cone.

It develops multiple shoots from the base which show medium dense branches, where in the typical species they are more erect, giving an upright habit to the plant, while in the varieties the form can be either upright or more spreading.

It has a symmetrical canopy with regular outline and foliage that is characterized as medium texture, and the height of the plant reaches 15 m and its diameter 8 m, dimensions which it acquires within a period of about 20 years.

The plant’s most striking decorative feature is its flowers, which bloom for an extended period, ranging from 60 to 120 days, beginning in early summer and ending in early fall.

Of course, in its natural range, the flowering period can be much longer, as the plant often remains in bloom for nearly the entire growing season.

Another decorative feature of the plant is the bark of the trunk or trunks, which often exfoliates in thin flakes, revealing on the trunks an orange-brown inner bark of particular decorative value.

The trunk or trunks are covered by a thin bark with a smooth to slightly coarse texture and a grayish-brown color. It often exfoliates in thin flakes, revealing on the trunks an orange-brown inner bark – although it sometimes appears in other colors, such as grayish, gray-green, brown, and purple.

The twigs are covered with very fine pubescence which is lost as they mature, they are thin, square or subalate, and they have a reddish or green color, which later becomes brownish-green.

The branches are glabrescent, have a grayish-brown color, are quite strong and do not break easily.

The flowers are hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, and six-merous, with a diameter of 3 to 4 cm. The receptacle (or hypanthium), 7 to 11 mm long, is tubular in shape, glabrous and leathery, smooth or possibly bearing 6 ridges.

The calyx consists of 6 triangular lobes of fused sepals, which are glabrous, spreading or erect, ranging in length from 3.5 to 5.5 mm. An annulus (ridge) runs along the inner base of the lobes. The 6 lobed petals, 1.2 to 2 cm in diameter, are orbicular, clawed, with slender claws 6–9 mm long.

The exserted stamens, usually 36 to 42 in number, are dimorphic. Of these, 6 solitary stamens located externally, opposite the petals, have thick, colored filaments and bear relatively large anthers. The rest, which grow internally in clusters, have filiform filaments, are white in color, and bear noticeably smaller anthers.

The pistil is 1, with a gynoecium syncarpus, consisting of 6 carpels. The 6-locular ovary is superior, glabrous, with numerous ovules per locule. The long and exserted style, which sometimes appears straight and at other times curved or coiled, bears a capitate stigma.

The flowers of the typical species are pink, but the varieties come in red, violet, purple, and white, and there are also exceptionally interesting varieties with bicoloration on each individual flower.

The pollination of the plant is carried out with insects (entomophilous species).

The fruit of the plant is a dehiscent capsule with 4 to 6 valves, it has a brown color and an ellipsoid shape, and its dimensions are 0.7 to 1.2 cm in length and 1 to 1.3 cm in diameter.

The seeds are winged, have a length of 7 to 8 mm, brown-green color and are disc-shaped.

The Crapemyrtle is a highly adaptive and hardy plant. In relation to temperatures, the minimum limit ranges between -15 to -17 °C (5-1.4 °F), but established plants with a south orientation can withstand up to -21 °C (-5.8 °F).

Frost does not affect it, whether it is late spring or early autumn.

With high temperatures it does not face a problem, as long as its roots are adequately protected by cover from direct sun exposure and the plant is watered normally until the age of 3 to 4 years.

In relation to the soil, it grows in various types, however it thrives in medium to heavy loamy soils, which are cool and drain.

In terms of nutrients, it seems to respond better to those of medium fertility while in terms of pH it prefers acidic to slightly alkaline reaction soils, with optimum values ranging between 5 and 6.5.

Sometimes the Crapemyrtles can cause problems from pests and diseases.

Of the diseases, the most important is powdery mildew, which is caused by the fungus Erysiphe lagerstroemia. The disease occurs when the days are hot and the nights are cold while the relative humidity is low. It is also frequent to be infected by Cercospora leaf spot caused by the fungus Cercospora lythracearum.

None of these two diseases destroys the plant, however the aesthetic damage can be very big. To deal with them, the appropriate formulations are used, while the selection of resistant varieties is an even better solution.

The same applies to entomological infestations, mainly by aphids (Tinocallis kahawaluokalani), which are sometimes a major problem.

• Adoretus versutus (Rose Beetle)
• Altica spp.
• Anoplophora chinensis (Black And White Citrus Longhorn)
• Chaetocnema basalis
• Chaetocnema indica
• Halyomorpha halys (Brown Marmorated Stink Bug)
• Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Black Tea Thrips)

• Homalodisca vitripennis (Glassy Winged Sharpshooter)
• Pteroma plagiophleps
• Popillia japonica (Japanese Beetle)
• Retithrips syriacus (Black Vine Thrips)
• Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Granulate Ambrosia Beetle)
• Dialeurodes citri (Citrus Whitefly)

• Monellia caryella (Blackmargined Aphid)

• Sarucallis kahawaluokalani – syn. Tinocallis kahawaluokalani (Crapemyrtle Aphid)

• Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Crapemyrtle Bark Scale)
• Ceroplastes ceriferus (Indian Wax Scale)
• Ceroplastes floridensis (Soft Scale)

• Eriococcus lagerostroemia
• Selenaspidus articulatus (West Indian Red Scale)

• Paratrichodorus porosus

• Rotylenchulus reniformis (Reniform Nematode)

• Armillaria tabescens (Armillaria Root Rot)
• Botryosphaeria obtusa
• Cercospora lythracearum
• Cryphonectria cubensis (Eucalyptus Canker)
• Erysiphe australiana – syn. Erysiphe lagerstroemiae (Powdery Mildew)
• Fomitiporia mediterranea (Esca Disease)

• Phyllactinia guttata – syn. Phyllactinia corylea
• Phyllosticta lagerstroemiae (Tip Blight of Crape-Myrtle) 
• Phymatotrichum omnivorum
• Pseudocercospora lythracearum – syn. Cercospora lythracearum
• Rhizoctonia ramicola

The Lagerstroemia indica is not toxic to humans and pets.

There are no reports or indications that Crapemyrtles causes allergic reactions.

Being an extremely beloved ornamental plant, the Crapemyrtle counts hundreds of varieties and hybrids. Their characteristics vary, offering a wide range of plant appearance and height, resistant to disease and insect attacks, as well as an endless range of flower color options.

Some of the most important varieties are:

• Lagerstroemia indica ‘Coccinea’
• Lagerstroemia indica ‘Jinhuang’
• Lagerstroemia indica ‘Nivea’
• Lagerstroemia indica ‘Red Imperator’
• Lagerstroemia indica ‘Rosea’
• Lagerstroemia indica ‘Rosea Nova’
• Lagerstroemia indica ‘Rubra Magnifica’
• Lagerstroemia indica ‘Superviolacea’

Some of the most important Crapemyrtle hybrids are:

• Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Acoma’
• Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Apalachee’
• Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Cherokee’
• Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Natchez’
• Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Muskogee’
• Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Powhatan’
• Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Tuscarora’
• Lagerstroemia indica x speciosa ‘Monia’
• Lagerstroemia indica x speciosa ‘Princes’
• Lagerstroemia (indica × fauriei × limii) ‘Arapaho’
• Lagerstroemia (indica × fauriei × limii) ‘Cheyenne’

The Lagerstroemia indica has not only ornamental but also medicinal as well as ethnobotanical value. All these aspects of the plant are briefly discussed immediately below.

The Crapemyrtle, according to a number of studies, contains various alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, saponins, sterols, triterpenes, anthraquinones, reducing compounds, flavonoids and phenolic glycosides.

In experimental work it has shown anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antithrombin and anti-Alzheimer’s effect.

The plant has a long tradition of ethnobotanical exploitation by many human communities. The roots, bark, leaves and flowers of the plant are used therapeutically.

For example, decoctions from the bark as well as from the leaves are administered as laxatives, while its seeds are given against insomnia and as narcotic.

The plant is generally used as an analgesic, to control cholesterol levels, to control blood pressure, against urinary dysfunctions, to treat diarrhea, to facilitate bowel movement and to treat diabetes.

The Crapemyrtle, as it is highly adaptable to different environments, is utilized in many ways:

• Planted in pots and planters – especially small varieties
• As a plant that can withstand the pollution, the harsh atmosphere of cities, it is planted in parks and squares
• In the form of a tree, it creates beautiful tree lines on wide sidewalks or other similar spaces.
• Its drought resistance makes it suitable for island and other areas where water for irrigation is scarce.
• It is planted as a small shade tree in the lawns or in the flower beds of the gardens
• Can be planted in outdoor living rooms as well as in patios
• Combines with other plants in group plantings, such as Junipers (Juniperus x media ‘Pfitzeriana Glauca’), Pink Rock-Roses (Cistus creticus), Purple Japanese Barberries (Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’), and White Gauras (Oenothera lindheimeri – syn. Gaura lindheimeri)

One of Crapemyrtle’s most important improvement projects took place in the U.S. National Arboretum, under the supervision of Dr. Donald Roy Egolf. Each of the hybrids created was given the name of a Native Americans Tribe.

However, neither Donald Roy Egolf nor any other Crape Myrtles breeder gave the name of Princess Pocachontas of the Native American Powhatan to any of the hybrids. Neil Young did it – but in one song.

The Neil Young’s song Pocahontas is heard through the divine voice of the great Johnny Cash, as a conclusion to another concise article of “Kalliergeia”.