Sunday, October 20, 2013

Important Things To Think About When You Plan To Buy Crape Myrtle Trees

By Elena McDowell


The crape myrtle is among the most well known flowering trees in both the US and Europe. They typically have large sweeping branches that are laden with flowers of all different colors. They can range from pink, to violet, to red and white. There are many different varieties to look at when you are planning to buy crape myrtle trees for landscaping your front yard.

They grow to an average of 20 to 25 feet but if given time and enough space to spread out they can often grow much larger. There are also several dwarf varieties available for people who have a limited area or prefer smaller plants to care for that can be bought in many nurseries and online stores. The bark is generally a smooth light to dark gray that slowly peels off through the year displaying a multicolored trunk.

A Natchez is one of the quicker growing hybrid types. It can often mature to a height of 25 feet or more. The blossoms are often a nice white which open in the spring and bloom all year and a rich off white colored bark. The Muskogee is similar though its thick flowers are dark pink flowers with a deep brown bark.

The Osage is smaller with the mature height being around 15 - 20 feet tall. It has large pink flowers that bloom spring to fall. It also has glossy leaves that will turn bright red during the fall. The Sioux is also similar, though has bright pink flowers and often grows better in tight and narrow places.

Growing a tiny 5 to 10 feet high, the Acoma hybrid will tend to spread out more horizontally than skyward. It has tiny greenish gray leaves and yellow-white flowers to provide it with a more distinctive look among other trees and shrubs. The disease resistant hybrid Tonto is well known for its natural globular shape and the light red flowers many people love seeing.

Sometimes people like to try their hand at growing them in small containers or prefer small shrubs for landscaping around windows. The New Orleans is one of the best examples of the small verity. They are best known for their rich purple flowers and glossy violet tinted leaves. This plant grows like a true shrub and could even be kept in large hanging baskets.

Before selecting a tree, walk around the area and consider how tall it could grow in the space provided for it. The idea is for the tree to blend into the landscaping around it, while also complementing it as well. Also consider any pruning needs, sometimes people decide on a larger tree or a faster growing one only to prune it back year after year until it finally dies.

When you buy crape myrtle trees for your landscaping needs remember that the first year they are in the ground or pot, they will need plenty of water. If it is 90 or 100 degrees out, one day can dry the roots out enough to permanently damage the plant. With proper care, after the first year they have an established root system and no longer require frequent watering.




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