This is notably valuable in hot areas like Texas, New Mexico, and California places that often experience very dry and hot summers. This is a great benefit for land located close to the coast.Īdding to its flexibility is the fact that wax myrtle is generally resistant to heat and drought. Wax myrtle is known for its adaptability: it is salt-tolerant and will not suffer from sea spray. Instead, they take advantage of its vibrant color and fast growth to build screens and hedges and to create visually distinct borders and botanical dividers. However, landscapers rarely use it for its culinary or medicinal properties. Both leaves and berries are used as a food flavoring as they make an aromatic substitute for bay leaves. These flowers have given wax myrtle its name, as they are heavily coated with a wax-like substance. In early spring, its flowers appear, followed by grayish-white fruit in late summer and through winter. Its dense and rich foliage has a characteristic olive-green color that makes it stand out from other bushes and hedge plants and creates beautiful splashes of dark green in the woods. Wax myrtle is hardy in zones 7 to 9 and can thrive even in hardiness zone 10.Īs it grows 3 to 5 feet per year, it is a plant that will quickly cover ground and create a useful hedge. Plants in 200mm (8″) pots cost about $20, but larger plants in 300mm or 25 litre (12″) pots are priced at around $65.Wax myrtle is a low-maintenance, fast-growing evergreen that thrives in areas like Texas, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, and California. Getting started:Ĭrepe myrtles are available at nurseries. To stop suckering problems avoid damaging the roots or lower trunk, mulch to prevent weeds or grass growing under the tree, and keep plants well watered in dry periods. Also remove low growth to develop a smooth, attractive trunk. When plants are small remove spent flower heads in late autumn or winter to keep them tidy. Alternatively select one of the mildew-resistant varieties. To reduce the risk of powdery mildew plant in an open, sunny garden situation with good air circulation. If a shrub is preferred, plant one of the new, smaller varieties, rather than pruning every year to keep a tree down to shrub size. Left unpruned, crepe myrtles develop a naturally appealing shape and will flower well regardless. However, the downside of this annual pruning is that it creates an ugly, butchered looking plant. Some older varieties are susceptible to powdery mildew prone to suckering PruningĬrepe myrtles can be heavily pruned in winter to encourage the development of long, arching branches of flowers. Good points:īeautiful flowers autumn colour attractive bark many new varieties including ground cover varieties (sold as Chopin series) Downside: The Indian Summer series have good cold tolerance. In mountain zones plant in a warm, sheltered microclimate. ‘Natchez’ (white flowers) 6m (18′) Best climate:Ĭrepe myrtles grow well in most parts of Australia. ‘Acoma’ (white flowers and a weeping habit), 3m (10′) Each cultivar is named after an American Indian tribe, and they range in size from around 3-6m (10-18) fully grown. The Indian Summer range has been specially bred to resist powdery mildew, a fungal disease that can be seen on some older crepe myrtle varieties. Indian Summer Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x L. There is an Australian native crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia archeriana), which grows to around 7m (20′) tall and has pinkish mauve flowers. Unpruned crepe myrtles develop beautifully coloured, smooth, mottled trunks. In autumn the mid-green leaves turn yellow, orange or red (depending on the variety) before falling. The petals are ruffled, with a crepe-like texture. Trusses of white, pink, mauve or purple blooms appear in late summer. It is often severely pruned and grown as a shrub 3-4m (10-12′) tall. Plant details Common name:ĭescription: A deciduous, vase-shaped tree about 6-8m (18-25′) tall. They are also resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that is difficult to control with fungicides. Don looked at an exciting new range of crepe myrtle hybrids which reach different heights and spreads, and so reduce the need for pruning. They are native to eastern Asia and are hardy in most parts of Australia. Crepe myrtles are among the world’s best flowering trees.
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