![]() ![]() With the range of sizes and colors that are available the choices are virtually endless. However the list of summer-flowering trees and shrubs is not that long, so Crape Myrtles, which will reliably flower from early summer to frost, become a center-piece of the garden wherever they can be grown. So while spring flowers are a great way to welcome the new season, summer flowering plants should form a large part of the garden plants chosen, since sitting in a summer garden surrounded by flowers is one of life’s great joys. On the hottest days the garden offers shade and coolness and invites us to sit in it. That is when we want to enjoy the fresh air, the warmth and the sunshine. The majority of people spend most of their time in the garden during summer. Crape Myrtles in the Garden and Landscape Overall, Crape Myrtles are valuable plants that can be used in a variety of ways in the garden wherever a shrub or small tree is needed, with the great bonus of a fantastic flower display in many colors. As the first clusters turn to seed new side shoots are formed with new flowers, continuing the display for months and months. The flowers are followed by seed capsules about a half-inch across and these seed clusters are attractive too, especially on larger trees. In warm climates flowers will appear in June and flowering will continue to at least the end of September. ![]() The only colors not available are true blues, yellows and oranges. A wide range of colors is available, in all shades from white to pink and red, as well as lilacs and purples. The petals are crinkled, like crepe-paper, which is the origin of the common name ‘Crape Myrtle’. The flowers are about one inch across, but many are carried in each panicle, making a very dramatic effect. The first flower clusters of the season will usually be larger than those that form later on. In fall they turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red, with some varieties having richer fall color than others, but all making a great display at that special time of year.įlower clusters appear in summer at the ends of new shoots and these panicles can be 6 to 18 inches long, again depending on the variety, the type of pruning used and the vigor of growth. The leaves are glossy and dark green and in some varieties they are a rich red color in spring when they first appear, slowly fading as summer comes into dark green. The leaves are simple ovals in shape and can be between 2 and 8 inches in length depending on the variety and the vigor of growth. The different varieties have different shapes, with some being more upright and other bushier and rounded. The general form of the plant is bushy, often almost as wide as they are tall, but in taller varieties, they are more tree-like. The bark is shed in patches, which reveals new, fresh bark beneath and this shedding produces very interesting and beautiful patterns that are especially noticeable in winter or all year if plants are trained up on trunks. Their first notable feature is the bark, which is smooth and shows a variety of colors, ranging from grey to cinnamon and soft pink. They will thank you with a profusion of colors over one of the longest flowering seasons of any shrub.Ĭrape Myrtles are shrubs and small trees that usually develop several trunks, although they can be pruned to a single stem. They will grow in most soils and ask only for a sunny place to grow in. They form the main-stay of summer flowering and their spectacular foliage colors in fall as well as their attractive bark give them all-season interest. If you live in a suitable area it is hard to imagine gardening without Crape Myrtles. In addition they are available in a wide variety of sizes and forms, so they can be used in many parts of the garden, from large screens to lawn specimens and from shrub-beds to container plantings. Today’s modern Crape Myrtles are available in an extraordinary range of colors and they all have long flowering seasons from mid-summer well into the fall. If you are looking for a diversity of flower colors that will bloom continuously from early summer to the first frost and as well for plants that will thrive in hot, dry locations, then Crape Myrtles are ideal plants to choose and there will be a form suitable for every garden, no matter how large or small and no matter where you live. ![]() As well, the introduction of many new colors and disease-resistant forms has widened their appeal as well as their uses. In more recent years plant breeders have developed hardier forms, making it possible for gardeners in more northern areas to grow these beautiful plants, so they are now being much more widely planted. Their resistance to drought and heat and their brilliant summer flowers make them ideal choices for easy-care gardening in hotter regions of the country. Crape Myrtles are shrubs and small trees that have long been associated with gardening in the South. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |