Woodie’s Picks: Crape Myrtles For Bold Beauty in the Summer Landscape
We have officially entered the ‘Dog Days of Summer.’ Temperatures are soaring, the sun is brutal, and your landscape is probably bustling with bold blooms and life! However, with temperatures so hot, you’re also likely dealing with wilting blooms and burning foliage.
If your summer yard feels crispy and lackluster, a Crape Myrtle is just what you need to spice things up and bring some flair to your outdoor space. This blog will highlight the benefits of Crape Myrtles and showcase four different varieties to bring bold beauty to the summer landscape.
Why Grow Crape Myrtles
Extended Bloom Season
The biggest reason why people plant Crape Myrtles is for their gorgeous ruffled blooms that come in a range of colors. The crinkled petals have a distinctive texture similar to crepe paper. Arranged in large branching clusters that burst out of lustrous deep green foliage, these magnificent panicles will put on a show for you all summer long. Crape Myrtle blooms typically peak from July through August. These are some of the longest-blooming specimens in the midsummer landscape.
Year-Round Interest
The following reason to plant a Crape Myrtle is the year-round beauty and interest it brings to your property. Beyond the lush green foliage in spring and vibrant, voluminous blooms in summer, you can also look forward to colorful, warm-hued foliage in the fall and attractive exfoliating bark in the winter!
Low-Maintenance
A final favorable aspect of Crape Myrtle trees is their low-maintenance nature. Once established, these hardy specimens are readily drought tolerant and require little to no upkeep to maintain their breathtaking presence in a landscape. These summer statement trees are also very adaptable to different soil types and pH levels.
The Four Best Crape Myrtles For a Summer Garden Statement
Now that you’ve learned why Crape Myrtles are superior in the summer landscape, it’s time to dive into a few of our favorite varieties.
Twilight Magic Crape Myrtle
The Twilight Magic Crape Myrtle is at the top of our list when it comes to Crape Myrtle varieties we can’t get enough of. Sporting a striking contrast of deep plum-colored foliage and vibrant coral-pink blooms, this tree is sure to catch your eye and keep your yard looking lively all summer long! Often classified as a large shrub or small tree, the Twilight Magic grows about 12-14 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Popular for use as single-specimen plantings or in mass as a seasonal border plant, this stunning Crape Myrtle brings mystical beauty and magic wherever it grows.
Coral Magic Crape Myrtle
Twilight Magic isn’t the only spellbinding Crape Myrtle on the market, for the Coral Magic Crape Myrtle brings a whimsical feel to an outdoor space as well! The Coral Magic Crape Myrtle is another compact, rounded shrub best known for its vibrant coral-pink flowers. Foliage emerges as a coppery bronze in spring and transitions to a dark green in summer. This specific variety is a popular choice due to its impressive disease resistance and moderate size. Hardy to zones 7-9, the Coral Magic Crape Myrtle can tolerate significantly low winter temperatures and increasingly high summer temperatures.
Red Rocket Crape Myrtle
For a larger statement in the summer landscape, you may want to consider planting the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle. Famous for its bold cherry-red frilly flowers that emerge from midsummer through the fall, the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle exudes beauty and radiance. These summer trees typically reach heights up to 25 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Growing up to 5 feet per year, you will be awestruck by the way the Red Rocket Crape Myrtle lights up a garden.
Muskogee Crape Myrtle
Ifyou want to make a statement while still exhibiting subtle elegance, the Muskogee Crape Myrtle is the tree for you.
This vase-shaped grower produces light lavender-pink flowers and glossy green foliage atop the smooth, peeling bark. You can expect the Muskogee Crape Myrtle to grow 20-30 feet tall at maturity. Additional benefits of this gorgeous specimen include cold-hardiness, mildew resistance, and drought tolerance.
Shop Crape Myrtles Online
Whether you’re searching for long-lasting blooms, bold color, or hardiness to the elements, Craype Myrtle trees and shrubs have got you covered! When you plant these gorgeous specimens, you can look forward to the numerous benefits they bring to a landscape, all the while creating a magnificent display to enjoy throughout the seasons, year after year. Shop our wide selection of Crape Myrtles online today and enjoy shipment directly to your doorstep!