Whether you spell it “Crape Myrtle” (Sunset Western Garden Book), “Crepe Myrtle” (common spelling in the Southern U.S.), “Crapemyrtle” (U.S. Department of Agriculture), or “Grape Myrtle” (recently overheard on a site walk), you’ll have to agree that these small flowering trees have a lot to offer. 

Most noticeable are the gorgeous summertime flowers – spherical flower buds open into glorious bloom in midsummer in white and shades of red, pink, and purple – but they also sport colorful fall foliage and beautifully mottled bark year-round.  

Species Crape Myrtles are prone to mildew, but the US Department of Agriculture introduced hybrids that are resistant to the disease and are also cold-hardy. These graceful trees come in a variety of sizes and colors and are named in honor of Native American tribes such as ‘Arapaho’, ‘Comanche’, ‘Hopi’, and ‘Zuni’. 

The botanical name for the genus, Lagerstroemia, honors the memory of the Swedish plant collector Magnus von Lagerström, who discovered the original specimens in China and Korea. Thank you, Magnus!