Common Name: Crepe Myrtle

Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia indica

Plant description: A deciduous, vase-shaped tree about 6 - 8 m (about 18-25 ft.) tall with a 5 m (about 15 ft) spread.

Crepe Myrtles are plants for all seasons. They flower in late summer with clusters of white, pink, lavender or deep red crepe-like blooms.

In autumn, the leaves colour before dropping. Autumn foliage colour depends on the variety grown but may range from yellow and copper bronze or orange-red to dark red.

The crepe myrtles have many good points, it has beautiful flowers and have flowers till autumn. These trees also get better with age, as the trunk develops a wonderful appearance and the bark exfoliates in summer to give a gorgeous look with patches of pink, grey and brown. During the winter months the beauty of the smooth silver and gold coloured bark can be appreciated

It can be heavily pruned in winter to encourage the development of arching branches of flowers. Crepe myrtles can be propagated by hard wood cutting in winter or by seed in spring.

Crepe myrtles grow well in most parts of Australia. In the suburb where I live, different variety grows. Crepe myrtle have liven up this area, you can find this tree in parks, garden and even in my little courtyard.

I have captured a few of them and will be scouting more once the flowering season starts.