Crepe Myrtle Trees in Texas

The lack of water or drought in the Texas Hill Country has ended. With this drought, the trees in our area have really suffered, many have died. Our rains began last Fall and recovery began. We had a large hailstorm last fall and many Austin area trees were pelted with ice chunks losing a lot of leaves. The trees looked beat up and slightly bare.

The rains began and the drought lifted. This 2010 Spring was a rainy one, with water tables returning to normal. As summer began, sporadic rain showers have kept the area very green. The trees have recuperated and are especially heavy with greenery this year. Our yard has so much shade from the large oak trees, that once stood stripped from hail, that the St. Augustine grass is suffering underneath.

The flowering trees are especially beautiful this summer with an additional lusciousness not usually found in this area. Especially colorful and prolific are the Crepe Myrtle trees.

These trees are designed to grow as a bush. With good pruning, they can grow as small trees. It appears that many residents prefer the tree to the bush. The colors of the crepe myrtle range from pale pink to bright pastels to purples. This bush/tree is easy to maintain and grows well in the Texas Hill Country.

Crepe Myrtle trees can be found bordering parking lots, front yards and on office lawns. It is a very popular tree used across the country. They can be messy as they drop their flowers, but they certainly add color to the any landscape!