About
In late summer it produces pale purple flowers with crinkled petals, held in small clusters. An upright, deciduous shrub or small, multi-stemmed tree to 4m tall, with peeling, grey and reddish-brown bark and large, glossy leaves. Hardier than L. indica and its cultivars, but less spectacular.
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, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Trees
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, City and courtyard gardens
Native toChina
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun
PruningSee pruning group 1; will withstand hard pruning
PropagationPropagate by seed, softwood cuttings or semi-ripe cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly if grown indoors
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)