How Tall Does A Crepe Myrtle Tree Get?
Crepe Myrtle is a popular flowering plant all over the world. They are year-round beauties that make the landscape attractive and beautiful. They are fast growing plants that flower from June to October with a tough and durable structure.
They are not hard to grow and will return the favor with beautiful colors. The question comes, “How tall does a Crepe Myrtle tree get?” Keep reading to find out!
What are the Variants of the Crepe Myrtle Tree?
Crepe Myrtle comes in a wide range of variants. The variants are different in bloom, leaf color, and mature size. There are mainly 3 categories of this plant. The categories are based on the matured height of plants.
- Dwarf Category
- Semi Dwarf Category
- Large or Tree Category
That is not all! Each of these categories has a range of variants. You must choose the right variant with the right size for your garden.
What are the Variants of Dwarf Category Crepe Myrtle?
The Dwarf category mainly has three variants of crepe myrtle. The average height of this variant can reach 4 feet or less. The variants of dwarf category crepe myrtle are:
- Princess Lyla: They have rose pink flowers with dark green leaves. This variant of crepe myrtle can grow up to 1 or 2 feet tall. They are excellent for mass planting.
- Pocomoke: They have dark green foliage and blooms in deep rose pink flowers. The average height of Pocomoke Crepe Myrtle is between 2 to 3 feet.
- Victor: This variant of Crepe Myrtle is the tallest in the dwarf category. They have crinkly dark red flowers with green leaves. The leaves turn into beautiful red-orange in autumn. The average height of Victor Crepe Myrtle is 2 to 4 feet.
What are The Variants of Semi Dwarf Category Crepe Myrtle?
There are 5 variants of crepe myrtle plants in the semi-dwarf category. The average height of this category is 4 to 8 feet. The semi-dwarf variants are:
- Enduring Summer: This series of crepe myrtle blooms in Red, Pink, Lavender, and White colors. Initially, the leaves come out in glossy green, tinged with red, and with time they turn dark green. The average height of this variant is 4 to 5 feet.
- Princess: This variant comes in different colors, including Holly Ann – Cherry Red, Kylie – Magenta, Zoey – Red, and Pink. The height and width of this variant is 4 feet on average. Initially, the leaves come out in copper red and turn deep green in summer.
- Double Feature: This variant has wine-red leaves initially, and the flowers are ruby-red. They don’t have any seed capsules. The height and width of this series can be 6 to 8 feet.
- Double Dynamite: They have bright red flowers that bloom throughout the summer with deep burgundy foliage. They have a compact habit and grow up to 8 to 10 feet tall.
- Royalty: The Royalty variant of semi-dwarf crepe myrtle blooms in crinkly purple flowers with green foliage. The average height of this variant is 8 to 10 feet.
Large or Tree Category Variants of Crepe Myrtle
This category of crepe myrtle has the tallest variants of all. The tree variants can grow up to 10 to 20 feet. There are tons of variants of crepe myrtle in the large to tree category. Some of the most common and popular variants are:
- Black Diamond: They have beautiful black foliage that comes out in spring with colorful blooms of red, pink, purple, and white. They are considered an excellent plant for having dark foliage. These can grow up to 10 to 12 feet tall.
- Thunderstruck: They bloom in vibrant red, lavender, coral, or white blooms with a foliage color of near-black. A matured thunderstruck crepe myrtle can be 10 to 15 feet tall.
- Dynamite: They bloom from summer to winter in large clusters of cherry red flowers. The leaves turn orange in the fall and the height can go from 10 to 15 feet.
- Pink Velour: As the name suggests, they bloom in bright pink flowers with burgundy foliage. They have thick and leathery leaves that turn orange in autumn. A mature tree can reach from 10 to 15 feet in height.
- Natchez: They have beautiful white flowers with glossy dark green leaves that turn orange or red in the fall. This gorgeous crepe myrtle is the tallest that can reach 20 to 30 feet of height.
How to Prune Crepe Myrtle That are Too Tall?
Most of the time, people prune crepe myrtle that are too tall the wrong way. The common practice of pruning called “Topping” does not kill the plant but can seriously harm its growth. Similar to the other plants, the timing of pruning crepe myrtle is very important. You can prune them in late March to early April. The proper way to prune a crepe myrtle is to thin the plant, not topping it. In cases of overgrown crepe myrtle, you can follow the process below.
Remove the branches that rub against each other, cross each other, or in a competition with each other. Also, remove the branches that do not contribute to the overall growth direction and the target shape you want. Do not forget to remove the suckers at the base of your crepe myrtle.
Final Words
Crepe myrtle is a beautiful plant that has both attractive flowers and foliage. It is used to decorate yards and gardens worldwide. As there are so many variants of this plant with different heights and colors, choose the variant wisely.
Your variant of crepe myrtle should complement the other flowers and their orientation in the garden. And if it overgrows, you can prune it properly to maintain shape.
FAQs
What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle?
On average, a crepe myrtle has a lifespan of around 25 years. But some crepe myrtles are known that lived for even a century or more!
What is the best place to plant a crepe myrtle?
Perfect condition for the best growth of crepe myrtle is full of sun, loamy, well-drained and moist soil. Therefore, planting one of these in a south or west-facing garden with full sun is the best choice.
How often should I water my crepe myrtle?
That depends on the soil, actually. On light or sandy soil, watering the plant 2 times a week is enough. If the soil is clay, it is best to water it once a week.
