About
Bright, pink-red flowers with crinkled petals in terminal clusters appear in summer. A deciduous shrub or small tree, to a height of around 1.5m, with paired, glossy green leaves emerging red before maturing to green. Brown and grey peeling bark offers further nterest throughout the year.
About the genus
Lagerstroemia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with simple leaves and conical panicles of flowers with ruffled petals; some have attractive peeling bark
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, City and courtyard gardens, Mediterranean climate plants, Sub-tropical
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. In colder areas grow against a warm, sunny wall or overwinter in a cool or temperate greenhouse.
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in late spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly if grown indoors
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)