A Guide To Crepe Myrtle Varieties

Crepe myrtles come in a brilliant array of colors sure to brighten any yard. But they also come in many different heights and choosing the one that best fits the space you have is the key to making sure you both find happiness for years to come.

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Nothing says summer in the South like crepe myrtles. Found in many shapes, sizes, and varieties, their arching branches make them a mainstay for framing many a courtyard. The tree loves heat and humidity, tolerates drought, and grows quickly. Unlike the azalea, camellia, and gardenia, which pine for acid soil, crepe myrtle (Lythraceae) flourishes just about everywhere. No wonder it ranks as the South's most popular (and coveted) ornamental tree.

Unfortunately, these beautiful trees are also victims of some serious crime. Every year in late winter and spring well-meaning but unaware homeowners chop them down to thick, ugly stumps (a crime known as "crepe murder"). Their motive? They likely bought a crepe myrtle only for its color without checking how big the plant will get. So when it inevitably blocks the upstairs windows just a few years after planting, out comes Angry Homeowner wielding the pruning saw.

Let's put a stop to this terrible practice now by choosing crepe myrtles by color and size, and we’re here to help. Below you’ll find a guide to crepe myrtle heights with info on their summer bloom color and fall leaf color as well. (As gorgeous as their summer blooms are, just wait until you see a crepe myrtle in full fall mode. Orange, red, and yellow foliage replaces the brilliant blooms for an outstanding autumn show.)

How Tall do Crepe Myrtles Get?

Crepe myrtles—or crape myrtles and crapemyrtles if you prefer—range in size from dwarf selections that grow less than 3 feet tall to several large varieties that reach upwards of 30 feet. Knowing the mature height of a plant before you buy it and planting the proper size for the site will save you much heartache (and backache) in the future. Most crepe myrtles planted today are selections of Lythraceae indica—a species ?rst introduced into the U.S. from China in the early 1800s by famed botanist Andre Michaux in Charleston, South Carolina—or hybrids between L. indica and Lythraceae faurei, an upright tree that reaches heights of 25-50 feet with arching branches.

Mature size is so important that we’ve grouped popular selections into dwarf (2-5 feet tall), semi-dwarf or short (6-10 feet tall) medium (11-20 feet tall), and tall (21-50 feet.) categories. Use dwarf kinds in containers, mixed borders, and masses. Use short types in containers, shrub borders, or near the house. Use medium types as small shade trees, street trees, or for screening. Give tall types lots of room and don't plant near the house. One 'Natchez' is plenty for a 900-square feet lawn.

Dwarf Crepe Myrtles

Name

Form/Height

Flower Color

Fall Foliage

Mildew Resistance

Comments

‘Chicksaw’

Dense mound 3-4 feet tall and wide

Lavender-pink

Bronze-red

Very good

Slow grower; great in container

‘Enduring Summer’

Rounded 4-5 feet tall and wide

White or red

Burgundy-red

Very good

Long blooming early summer through fall. Hardy from zone 6-9.

‘Pocomoke’

Mounding, 2-3 feet high, 3-4 feet wide

Rosy pink

Bronze-red

High

Great in containers; no pruning needed; heavy bloomer; cold hardy

Razzle Dazzle series

Mounding, 3-4 feet high and wide

See comments

Burgundy

Good

Begins blooming a little later than most crepe myrtles, usually in July; selections include ‘Cherry Dazzle’ (our favorite), cherry-red blooms; ‘Diamond Dazzle,’ white blooms; and ‘Sweetheart Dazzle,’ bubble-gum-pink

‘Summerlasting’

3 feet tall and wide

Raspberry, White, Bright pink, Plum

Bronze

Good

Long bloom season; does great in containers; zone 7-10

‘Tightwad Red’

Tight mound 3-4 feet tall and wide

Deep red

Burgundy

High

Small leaves emerge wine-red in spring, changing to deep green in summer; sterile—no seed pods; cold hardy

‘Victor’

Compact, 3-5 feet tall and wide

Deep red

Orange-yellow

Good

Cold hardy

Semi-Dwarf or Short Crepe Myrtles

Name

Form/Height

Flower Color

Fall Foliage

Mildew Resistance

Comments

‘Acoma’

Arching, spreading, 6-10 feet tall and wide

White

Reddish purple

High

Handsome, light gray bark; repeat bloomer; cold hardy; our favorite white

‘Delta Jazz’ (part of the Southern Living Plant Collection)

Upright, 6-10 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide

Pink

Burgundy

Good

Dark burgundy leaves are main attraction; not a heavy bloomer

Early Bird series
(part of the Southern Living Plant Collection)

Upright, 5-8 feet high, 3-4 feet wide

White, lavender or purple

Burgundy-red

Good

Blooms earlier than most crepe myrtles, as early as Mother’s Day; reblooms over summer, offering over 100 days of blooms; great in containers

‘Hopi’

Spreading, bushy, 7-10 feet tall and wide

Medium pink

Orange-red

High

Handsome, gray-brown bark; repeat bloomer; cold hardy

Magic series

Rounded, bushy, 7-10 feet tall and wide

See comments

Light yellow

Good

Selections include ‘Coral Magic’ 
(coral-pink blooms), ‘Plum Magic’ 
(fuchsia-pink), and ‘Purple Magic’ 
(purple); new growth emerges red-dish and then changes to deep green

‘Red Rooster’

Upright, 8-10 feet tall, 5 feet wide

Bright red

Red

Good

New foliage emerges maroon-red; cold hardy

‘Siren Red’

Rounded, 8-10 feet tall and wide

Dark red

Yellow

High

New foliage emerges wine-red and then changes to dark green

‘Velma’s Royal Delight

Bushy, 4-6 feet tall and wide

Rich, magenta-purple

Yellow-orange

Good

Gorgeous ? owers; handsome bark; cold hardy

‘White Chocolate’

8-10 feet tall and wide

White

Orange and yellow

Good

Beautiful in the landscape; leaves emerge maroon, then change to burgundy-green

‘Zuni’

Vase-shaped, spreading, 6-10 feet tall and wide

Medium lavender

Orange-red

High

Graceful form, long bloomer, hand-some bark, cold hardy; our favorite lavender

Medium Crepe Myrtles

Name

Form/Height

Flower Color

Fall Foliage

Mildew Resistance

Comments

Black Diamond series

Upright, spreading, 10-12 feet tall, 8 feet wide

See comments

Deep purple

Good

These new trademarked plants are the same as the Ebony series developed by the USDA; they’re noted for striking, blackish purple foliage and contrasting ?owers of red, pink, and white; selections include ‘Best Red’ (‘Ebony Flame’), ‘Blush’ (‘Ebony Glow’), ‘Crimson Red’ (‘Ebony Fire’), and ‘Pure White’ (‘Ebony & Ivory’)

‘Burgundy Cotton’

Upright to 12 feet tall, 6-7 feet wide

White

Burgundy

Good

Burgundy ?ower buds; leaves emerge wine-red and then change to burgundy-green; fast grower

‘Catawba’

Upright, 12-15 feet tall, 8-10 feet wide

Deep purple

Orange-red

Good

Cold hardy; our favorite purple

‘Comanche’

Upright spreading, 12-15 feet tall and wide

Coral-pink

Orange-red

High

Handsome tan to sandalwood bark; cold hardy

‘Dynamite’

Upright, 15-20 feet tall, 10 feet wide

Cherry-red

Orange-red

Good

Flowers may develop white ?ecking if they open on cool, overcast days; nearly seedless; new growth is crim-son, changing to green; cold hardy

‘Lipan’

Upright, spreading, 15-20 feet tall and wide

Medium lavender

Orange

High

Beautiful white to beige bark; cold hardy

‘Near East’

Open, vase-shaped, 10-15 feet tall and wide

Soft pink

Yellow

Fair to good

Beautiful blooms; not very cold hardy; not for Middle or Upper South

‘Osage’

Open, arching to pendulous, 15-20 ft. tall and wide

Clear, light pink

Red

High

Outstanding, chestnut-brown bark; heavy and long bloomer

‘Pink Velour’

Upright to vase-shaped, 10-12 feet tall and wide

Neon pink

Yellow

Good

Very showy blooms; leaves emerge wine-red and then change to burgundy-green; nearly seedless

‘Red Rocket’

Upright to 15-10 feet tall, 15 feet wide

Cherry-red

Orange-red

Good

Huge ?ower clusters; ?owers open-ing on cool, overcast days may show white ?ecking; new growth is red and then changes to deep green; cold hardy; our favorite red

‘Regal Red’

Upright to rounded, 15-20 feet tall and wide

Vivid, deep red

Red-orange

Good

Heavy bloomer; handsome bark; cold hardy

‘Rhapsody in Pink’

Upright to rounded, 12-15 feet tall and wide

Soft pink

Yellow-orange

Good

Seedless; leaves emerge purple and hold color through summer; ?ower clusters rebloom

‘Sioux’

Upright to 15-20 feet tall, 15 feet wide

Bright pink

Red

High

Heavy and long bloomer; smooth, light-brown bark; susceptible to leaf spot in high rainfall areas

‘Tonto’

Rounded, 10-12 feet tall and wide

Red

Maroon

High

Handsome, cream-colored to gray bark

‘Tuscarora’

Vase-shaped, 15-20 feet tall and wide

Deep coral-pink

Orange-red

High

Handsome, mottled, light brown bark

‘Yuma’

Upright, vase-shaped, 12-15 feet tall and wide

Medium lavender

Yellow-orange

Good

Beautiful blooms; handsome, light gray bark; cold hardy

Tall Crepe Myrtles

Name

Form/Height

Flower Color

Fall Foliage

Mildew Resistance

Comments

‘Arapaho’

Upright, vase-shaped, 18-25 feet tall and wide

Intense red

Maroon

High

Handsome, tan bark; fast grower; cold hardy

‘Basham’s Party Pink’

Upright, spreading, to 50 feet tall and wide

Lavender-pink

Orange-red

Good

Very popular in south Texas; not very cold hardy; not recommended for Upper and Middle South

‘Biloxi’

Upright, vase-shaped, to 35 feet tall, 15 feet wide

Light pink

Yellow-orange to red

High

Fast grower; beautiful, chestnut-brown bark; cold hardy

‘Miami’

Upright, spreading, 18-25 feet tall and wide

Deep pink

Orange-red

High

Outstanding, chestnut-brown bark; cold hardy; our favorite pink

‘Muskogee’

Broad, spreading, to 30 feet tall and wide

Light lavender

Orange-red

High

Handsome, light gray-brown bark; long bloomer; cold hardy

‘Natchez’

Upright, arching, to 35 feet tall and wide

White

Orange-red

High

Spectacular, cinnamon-brown bark; fast grower; long bloomer; most widely planted crepe myrtle in the South

‘Tuskegee’

Broad, spreading, 18-25 feet tall and wide

Dark rose-pink

Orange-red

High

Mottled, light tan bark; long bloomer

‘William Toovey’

Upright, spreading, 18-25 feet tall and wide

Watermelon-red

Orange-red

Good

Often sold as ‘Watermelon Red’; ? rst named crepe myrtle selection

‘Twilight’

20 - 25 feet tall and 10 -15 feet wide.

Deep purple

Orange, yellow, Burgundy

Good

Bronze leaf in early spring then green for summer. Blooms June through frost. Beautiful mottled bark. Zones 7-9

When to Buy a Crepe Myrtle

Believe it or not, we’re big advocates for you choosing a crepe myrtle in late summer. You’ll be able to see the tree in full bloom so you’ll know exactly what kind of show it will put on. And if you buy it in a container, you can either plant it in the yard right away or leave it in the original pot and plant it in fall when the weather is cooler. Bonus: August is often the time of year when garden centers put plants on sale, so you'll probably land a bargain.

Whether you plant it or leave it in the pot, regular watering will be the key to survival. When it's 95 degrees out, all it takes is one day of the roots drying out and it's sayonara to your crepe myrtle. Make sure the roots stay moist as long as it's warm. Next year, your plant will need much less water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color crepe myrtles are available?

Crepe myrtles are available in most colors except blue, yellow, and orange. The most common crepe myrtles are white and shades of pink to red and purple.

What do crepe myrtle flowers look like?

Crepe myrtles bloom in clusters with crepe paper-like flowers that reach six to 18 inches long. The foliage is leathery, elliptic and grows to be about three inches long. Trees have bark that is pale pinkish-grey.

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