Leaf
Amada44 · CC BY 3.0
Crape myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica L.
Also known as: Crepe myrtle, Indian lilac, Lagerstroemia
Family: Lythraceae
3 to 7 m tall
Planted as a specimen or in rows in gardens and parks in the south and centre of France
Flowering: July – September
Full sun
Hardy to about -15°C for the roots, regrows from the rootstock if the aerial parts freeze
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its smooth bark, which peels off in plates to reveal satiny wood, makes this tree a feature of interest even in winter, once the flowers and leaves have fallen.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, ovate, glossy green, turning orange-red in autumn
🌸 Flowers
Large panicles of flowers crinkled like crepe paper, pink, red, purple or white
🍎 Fruits
Small brown woody capsules splitting into six valves
🪵 Bark
Smooth, peeling in plates, revealing pale wood that is very decorative in winter
🗺️ Distribution
Native to China and South-East Asia, introduced to Europe in the 18th century
🐝 Value for pollinators
Late summer flowering much visited by bees and butterflies
✂️ Horticultural uses
Very popular for its prolonged summer flowering and decorative winter bark; many colour cultivars
🌿 Other Lythraceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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