There are over 50 recognized species of crape myrtles, and within these species, there are hundreds of cultivars. These cultivars vary in terms of size, bloom color, growth habits, and other characteristics. The most commonly cultivated species in the United States is Lagerstroemia indica, which has a particularly wide range of varieties.
When it comes to adding a burst of color and elegance to your Texas garden, crape myrtles are an unbeatable choice. Known for their stunning blooms and hardy nature, these versatile trees and shrubs can thrive in the Lone Star Stateās varied climate. Whether youāre looking to plant a towering tree or a compact shrub, crape myrtles offer a range of sizes and colors to suit any garden space.
Crape myrtles come in several varieties, broadly categorized by their mature size and bloom color. Hereās a breakdown to help you decide which one suits your garden best. Check out https://www.facebook.com/springtowngardencenter/ to see what we have in stock at the store.
Dwarf Crape Myrtle Varieties (3-5 feet)
Perfect for smaller spaces, containers, or as border plants, dwarf crape myrtles are compact yet provide abundant blooms.
- ‘Chicksaw’: Dense mound, 3-4 feet tall and wide. Lavender-pink flowers, bronze-red fall foliage, very good mildew resistance. Slow grower, great in containers.
- ‘Enduring Summer’: Rounded, 4-5 feet tall and wide. White or red flowers, burgundy-red fall foliage, very good mildew resistance. Long blooming from early summer through fall, hardy from zones 6-9.
- ‘Pocomoke’: Mounding, 2-3 feet high, 3-4 feet wide. Rosy pink flowers, bronze-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Great in containers, no pruning needed, heavy bloomer, cold hardy.
- āPink Rufflesā: Thrives in full sun, showcasing crinkly pink flowers and lush green foliage. This small, upright shrub, which reaches 2-6 feet tall at maturity, is mildew-resistant and boasts brilliant fall foliage in shades of orange-red, complemented by striking cinnamon-brown bark.
- Razzle Dazzle series: Mounding, 3-4 feet high and wide. Various flower colors, burgundy fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Begins blooming in July; includes ‘Cherry Dazzle’ (cherry-red blooms), ‘Diamond Dazzle’ (white blooms), and ‘Sweetheart Dazzle’ (bubble-gum-pink blooms).
- ‘Summerlasting’: 3 feet tall and wide. Raspberry, white, bright pink, and plum flowers, bronze fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Long bloom season, great in containers, hardy from zones 7-10.
- ‘Tightwad Red’: Tight mound, 3-4 feet tall and wide. Deep red flowers, burgundy fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Small leaves emerge wine-red in spring, changing to deep green in summer; sterileāno seed pods, cold hardy.
- āSnowā: Small, 3-5 feet tall and wide showcasing a shrubby form and upright branching topped by a profusion of snowy white flower clusters in the heat of summer.
- ‘Victor’: Compact, 3-5 feet tall and wide. Deep red flowers, orange-yellow fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Cold hardy.
Semi-Dwarf or Short Crape Myrtle Varieties (6-10 feet)
Ideal for hedges or as focal points in your garden, semi-dwarf crape myrtles offer a balance of size and color variety.
- ‘Acoma’: Arching, spreading, 6-10 feet tall and wide. White flowers, reddish-purple fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Handsome, light gray bark; repeat bloomer; cold hardy.
- āChristmas Timeā: Pure white, crape myrtle with a multi-trunked, upright form, reaching up to 10 feet. It features light green leaves with a thin yellow edge and no reddish hues in the new growth or stems. The tree produces extra-large, somewhat pyramidal white panicles.
- ‘Delta Jazz’: Upright, 6-10 feet tall, 4-5 feet wide. Pink flowers, burgundy fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Dark burgundy leaves are the main attraction, not a heavy bloomer.
- Early Bird series: Upright, 5-8 feet high, 3-4 feet wide. White, lavender, or purple flowers, burgundy-red fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Blooms earlier than most crape myrtles, reblooms over summer, great in containers.
- ‘Hopi’: Spreading, bushy, 7-10 feet tall and wide. Medium pink flowers, orange-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Handsome, gray-brown bark; repeat bloomer; cold hardy.
- Magic series: Rounded, bushy, 7-10 feet tall and wide. Various flower colors, light yellow fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Includes ‘Coral Magic’ (coral-pink blooms), ‘Plum Magic’ (fuchsia-pink blooms), and ‘Purple Magic’ (purple blooms); new growth emerges red and changes to deep green.
- ‘Red Rooster’: Upright, 8-10 feet tall, 5 feet wide. Bright red flowers, red fall foliage, good mildew resistance. New foliage emerges maroon-red; cold hardy.
- ‘Siren Red’: Rounded, 8-10 feet tall and wide. Dark red flowers, yellow fall foliage, high mildew resistance. New foliage emerges wine-red and changes to dark green.
- ‘Velmaās Royal Delight’: Bushy, 4-6 feet tall and wide. Rich, magenta-purple flowers, yellow-orange fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Gorgeous flowers, handsome bark; cold hardy.
- ‘White Chocolate’: 8-10 feet tall and wide. White flowers, orange and yellow fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Beautiful in the landscape; leaves emerge maroon, then change to burgundy-green.
- ‘Zuni’: Vase-shaped, spreading, 6-10 feet tall and wide. Medium lavender flowers, orange-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Graceful form, long bloomer, handsome bark, cold hardy.
Medium Crape Myrtle Varieties (10-15 feet)
Medium crape myrtles are perfect for medium-sized gardens, providing a good balance between size and bloom impact.
- Black Diamond series: Upright, spreading, 10-12 feet tall, 8 feet wide. Various flower colors, deep purple fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Noted for striking, blackish-purple foliage and contrasting flowers; includes ‘Best Red’, ‘Blush’, ‘Crimson Red’, and ‘Pure White’.
- ‘Burgundy Cotton’: Upright, 12 feet tall, 6-7 feet wide. White flowers, burgundy fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Burgundy flower buds; leaves emerge wine-red and change to burgundy-green.
- ‘Catawba’: Upright, 12-15 feet tall, 8-10 feet wide. Deep purple flowers, orange-red fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Cold hardy.
- ‘Comanche’: Upright spreading, 12-15 feet tall and wide. Coral-pink flowers, orange-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Handsome tan to sandalwood bark; cold hardy.
- ‘Dynamite’: Upright, 15-20 feet tall, 10 feet wide. Cherry-red flowers, orange-red fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Flowers may develop white flecking if they open on cool, overcast days; nearly seedless; new growth is crimson, changing to green; cold hardy.
- āEbony Flameā: Upright, spreading, 10-12 feet tall, 8 feet wide. Various flower colors, deep purple fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Noted for striking, blackish-purple foliage and contrasting vibrant, red flowers
- ‘Lipan’: Upright, spreading, 15-20 feet tall and wide. Medium lavender flowers, orange fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Beautiful white to beige bark; cold hardy.
- āMiss Sandraā: A crapemyrtle selected for elite purple flower color and an upright tight growth habit. Attractive persistent green foliage on a thick crown. Matures at 15ā20ā².
- ‘Near East’: Open, vase-shaped, 10-15 feet tall and wide. Soft pink flowers, yellow fall foliage, fair to good mildew resistance. Beautiful blooms; not very cold hardy.
- ‘Osage’: Open, arching to pendulous, 15-20 feet tall and wide. Clear, light pink flowers, red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Outstanding, chestnut-brown bark; heavy and long bloomer.
- āParadiseā: Tops out at 10 feet tall by 8 feet wide with stunning pink and white bicolor blooms.
- ‘Pink Velour’: Upright to vase-shaped, 10-12 feet tall and wide. Neon pink flowers, yellow fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Very showy blooms; leaves emerge wine-red and change to burgundy-green; nearly seedless.
- āPotomacā: Matures at 15 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide, with an upright growth pattern. Beautiful clear light pink flowers with exfoliating bark in several shades of light gray.
- ‘Red Rocket’: Upright, 15-10 feet tall, 15 feet wide. Cherry-red flowers, orange-red fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Huge flower clusters; new growth is red, changing to deep green; cold hardy.
- ‘Regal Red’: Upright to rounded, 15-20 feet tall and wide. Vivid, deep red flowers, red-orange fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Heavy bloomer; handsome bark; cold hardy.
- ‘Rhapsody in Pink’: Upright to rounded, 12-15 feet tall and wide. Soft pink flowers, yellow-orange fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Seedless; leaves emerge purple and hold color through summer; flower clusters rebloom.
- ‘Sioux’: Upright to 15-20 feet tall, 15 feet wide. Bright pink flowers, red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Heavy and long bloomer; smooth, light-brown bark.
- ‘Tonto’: Rounded, 10-12 feet tall and wide. Red flowers, maroon fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Handsome, cream-colored to gray bark.
- ‘Tuscarora’: Vase-shaped, 15-20 feet tall and wide. Deep coral-pink flowers, orange-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Handsome, mottled, light brown bark.
- ‘Yuma’: Upright, vase-shaped, 12-15 feet tall and wide. Medium lavender flowers, yellow-orange fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Beautiful blooms; handsome, light gray bark; cold hardy.
Tall Crape Myrtle Varieties (18-25 feet)
Tall crape myrtles are ideal for providing shade and serving as standout features in larger garden spaces.
- ‘Arapaho’: Upright, vase-shaped, 18-25 feet tall and wide. Intense red flowers, maroon fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Handsome, tan bark; fast grower; cold hardy.
- ‘Bashamās Party Pink’: Upright, spreading, to 50 feet tall and wide. Lavender-pink flowers, orange-red fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Very popular in south Texas.
- ‘Biloxi’: Upright, vase-shaped, to 35 feet tall, 15 feet wide. Light pink flowers, yellow-orange to red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Fast grower; beautiful, chestnut-brown bark; cold hardy.
- ‘Miami’: Upright, spreading, 18-25 feet tall and wide. Deep pink flowers, orange-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Outstanding, chestnut-brown bark; cold hardy.
- ‘Muskogee’: Broad, spreading, to 30 feet tall and wide. Light lavender flowers, orange-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Handsome, light gray-brown bark; long bloomer; cold hardy.
- ‘Natchez’: Upright, arching, to 35 feet tall and wide. White flowers, orange-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Spectacular, cinnamon-brown bark; fast grower; long bloomer; most widely planted crape myrtle in the South.
- ‘Tuskegee’: Broad, spreading, 18-25 feet tall and wide. Dark rose-pink flowers, orange-red fall foliage, high mildew resistance. Mottled, light tan bark; long bloomer.
- ‘William Toovey’: Upright, spreading, 18-25 feet tall and wide. Watermelon-red flowers, orange-red fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Often sold as āWatermelon Redā; first named crape myrtle selection.
- ‘Twilight’: 20-25 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide. Deep purple flowers, orange, yellow, and burgundy fall foliage, good mildew resistance. Bronze leaves in early spring then green for summer; blooms June through frost; beautiful mottled bark.
With their stunning blooms, versatile sizes, and low-maintenance nature, crape myrtles are a fantastic addition to any Texas garden. By understanding the different varieties and their requirements, you can select the perfect crape myrtle to enhance your outdoor space with vibrant color and elegance. Happy planting!
