There’s just something about a crepe myrtle. Vibrant blossoms that radiate elegance on lengthy, artistic limbs that seem to beckon the summer sun. And although we struggle to find a favorite, we’ve compiled a list of our most prized varieties of Hampton Roads’ “favorite tree.”
Princess Holly Ann - with vibrant cherry red blooms, this mounding dwarf crepe myrtle blossoms from summer to fall. True royalty, the Princess Holly Ann showcases deep green foliage in summer with purplish-red growth in fall while reaching 4-5 feet tall with a 2 1/2 to 3 foot spread. This disease resistant, heat and cold tolerant, shrub is just the thing for garden beds, containers and mass plantings.
Princess Jaden - luscious lavender flowers bloom from summer through fall over the dark green leaves that turn copper to reddish purple. This princess takes her time as a slow grower that reaches 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Perfect for borders, containers and mass plantings, plant Princess Jaden in full sun.
Natchez - sometimes it’s not just about the blooms. The Natchez crepe myrtle allures all with a dark, cinnamon bark that exfoliates as it gets older. This gives the structure of the tree interest even when defoliated during the winter months. Small but stunning, the Natchez reaches around 20-25' tall. Even in smaller yards this crepe is an eye catcher. The leaves turn a beautiful orange/bronze color during the fall before dropping while flowers are a crisp, cool white.
Catawba - Crepe Myrtle Catawaba is deciduous tree with stunning purple flower clusters on an upright, rounded form that blooms from spring until fall. Its foliage is green from spring through summer changing to rich shades of orange and red in the fall. Catawba is extremely drought tolerant, likes full to partial sunlight and is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions. Catawba has a rounded habit but can be limbed up to create the look of a small tree. It grows to approximately 15-20 feet high by 10-12-feet wide. A welcome, colorful addition to entryways, landscape beds, mixed perennial or shrub border and even containers, it is often seen around Hampton Roads as a foundation planting around large buildings or lining residential and public roadways. Catawba is easy to grow and requires little maintenance other than fertilization and pruning once a year.
Dynamite - with a name like dynamite, this crepe has a lot to prove! Luckily, this upright tree, growing up to 20’ tall and wide with deep red flowers and glorious red-orange fall blooms, the Dynamite delivers on all fronts. A true stunner, this crepe loves full or partial sunlight and is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions.
Ebony Flame Crepe Myrtle - as fiery as its name implies, the Ebony Flame exploded in popularity with ember red blooms contrasted by striking charred, black foliage. Drought tolerant, this crepe myrtle flowers during the summer and fall months. Expect the Ebony Flame to grow about 10-12 feet tall and 8 feet wide at a moderate pace. Crepe Myrtles perform exceptionally well in Hampton Roads, tolerating the area’s heat and humidity.
Ebony & Ivory - “Living in perfect harmony,” Ebony & Ivory is one of the most requested crepe myrtles on the block. If you're looking for a truly unique crepe... this one is a must-have! You'll adore its clusters of pure white blooms with yellow eyes that pop against its intense, dark purple, almost ebony, foliage. This upright grower blooms summer into fall and reaches a mature size of 10 to 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Ebony & Ivory makes and excellent accent plant in the landscape and rest assured - Ebony & Ivory is disease resistant and drought tolerant. If you looking for summer-blooming perennials to pair with this crepe -- we recommend gallardia, agastache, lantana, coreopsis, coneflowers and daylilies.
Planting Tips:For new plantings, dig a hole one and a half times wider than the plant’s container; place plant in hole, keeping the top of the root ball ground level; and back fill with dirt. Water thoroughly and then mulch around the base to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. New plantings require more frequent watering than established plants. Wind, temperature and soil are factors to consider in watering. Feed plants in early spring and again in early fall with an all-purpose fertilizer, following label instructions.