Seen all over the south, crepe myrtle is a very hearty, cheerful species. Trained as a tree, it can line a walkway without grabbing the pedestrians when you train the canopy above 6 feet or so. Used as a shrub, just remember it grows tall. Anchoring the corners of houses, they become an important and perfect accent. Varieties include single trunk and multi trunk. Many Orlando cities use single trunk on highway medium to have a colorful flowering tree that won’t block the traffic view. Putting several together can focus a special feature in the landscape. Another point to remember: they do lose their leaves in the winter. Study the mature growth characteristics to ensure that the landscape space you choose for your crepe myrtle allows it to spread its canopy, so you don’t have to prune too frequently.
Although most popular with a fusia colored flower, several varieties have been developed including pink, white, and black. To control the size of a crepe myrtle, prune them back when they are dormant. The flowers present a bountiful display as they bloom from May through October in the Orlando area.
