Crape Myrtle, with the Latin name of Lythraceae, comes from a large family of evergreen trees and shrubs. Beautiful, long lasting flowers make these plants especially attractive. They usually start blooming in the beginning of a summer, sometimes even earlier, and continue to bloom until mid autumn.
Flowers can be found in all shades and nuances between white and dark purple and red, but you wont find orange or yellow ones. There are no blue myrtles either, although some varieties may have a blue note. Pink varieties are the most common, and landscape designers gladly use them in their projects, because they stay decorative all summer long.
In modern landscaping, the common Crape Myrtles are available in all sizes and shapes. Some look as shrubs, while other types look more like trees. Dwarf varieties are especially popular. They can reach up to two feet and their specialty is that they can go from seed to bloom in only one season, and that makes them perfect for any gardener.
One very appreciated variety is called Japanese myrtle. This one has especially attractive, dark green leaves that are fungal resistant. It looks like a tree, and can survive in colder areas as well. The most attractive are its flowers. They are mostly pure white, but sometimes the hint of gentle pink can be found on the edges, what makes them even more decorative.
Queen crape myrtle is also known as Banaba. It comes from tropical and subtropic India, and has especially attractive pinky flowers you can imagine. It looks great in public parks and similar places. Unfortunately, it cannot survive harsh climates, but some areas of the States are warm enough for it, for example, southern Texas and California, and, of course, Hawaii.
These plants cannot survive cold winters. If you are still interested in buying one, you can choose from a wide range of miniature varieties. They are small enough to be grown in pots, and you can move them around. If you don’t live in the area with very cold winters, you might be able to protect them wrapping them with straw, for example. If not, bring them in.
Once you decide to buy a myrtle, find a nice, sunny place for it. Remember, they need plenty of sun, so make sure they aren’t in shade in any period of the day. If they don’t get enough sun, they won’t have so many lovely flowers. On the other hand, they won’t mind if you plant them into poor soil. A small amount of fertilizer now and then will be more than enough.
Another very important thing you shouldn’t ignore is the amount of water you give to your plants on regular basis. Although myrtles will appreciate enough water during dry summer months, in other periods of the year they shouldn’t be watered so often. Too much water can cause rank vegetative growth and less flowers on your plants.
Different varieties have different size, shape and color. Besides, they can have different barks, and their leaf color in autumn is sometimes quite different. You should keep this in mind when choosing your favorite crape myrtle. Learn a little something about pruning as well- This lovely plant will surely transform your garden on the most beautiful way.
You can visit the website www.crapemyrtlefarms.com for more helpful information about Beautiful Crape Myrtle Decorates Every Garden