A crape myrtle at a location without sun in winter

15 years ago

Hi all,

I planted two CM last Dec. The one under the full sun has been leaved out about 10 days ago. It is very healthy

The other was planted at back yard where there is no sun from Nov. to early May because the south wall of the yard. ( This CM is 3.5' tall. It may get some sun at winter when it grow to 6' more, higher than the wall). After May, it will get full sun for sure. Now this one is still a stick, even no buds shown, but under the skin it is still green .

My question is: is it OK to plant a CM at this location waiting it grow higher? Or I should replant it to a place which can get full sun in winter?

Thanks in advance!

Wei

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Comments (7)

brandon7 TN_zone7
15 years ago
I'm having a hard time picturing this scenario. How is the plant getting no sun for half the year and full sun for the other half? It seems like there would be a much more gradual transition over a period of at least a few months. Also, this set of parameters makes me wonder if it's planted right up against a house or something.
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brandon7 TN_zone7
15 years ago
OK, I just re-read what you wrote and see that it's a wall that's blocking the light. Still, it looks like the change and even the difference in light levels would be much less drastic.

If the plant really does have to grow in complete shade for half of the year, that can't be good. You may be correct about the light it will get, but if it were me, I'd take another look and see if the light it's getting is really blocked that much. If so, couldn't you just move it out from the wall just a foot or so?
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the trick up here in MI .. z5.. is to get plants dormant.. and keep them dormant ... the plants do not like to go in and out of winter dormancy ... and i bet thats the problem .. especially in the micro climate of this plant vs the others ... in every..lets say .. 10 year cycle.. youll have the mild winter.. and the bad winter ... the rest normal.. the plants are attuned to the 8 regular years.. and stuff happens the other two .. no pic.. so im guessing.. the wall is the problem ... and depending on how close.. its not only reflected sun.. but also retained heat into the night .. so maybe it repeatedly thawed and froze .. causing it to go in and out of dormancy ... longer than others.. and that might have been the issue ... many plants...that have dormant buds.. can regrow .. and with no insult to the relatively massive root mass ... recover rather fast.. and all you need do is train it into some shape you like ... but if it was a grafted plant .. and it dies below the graft.. then you are left to the whim of whatever the root mass is.. and sometimes its not the quality plant you had before ... i dont know anything specific to CMs .... so others will have to chime in here .. regardless ... you have to think in tree time ... and you might have to wait until the next time it blooms to see if its a favorable flower .. and in the mean time.. you just leave it alone ... every leaf is a food making machine.. so it would probably be best to not start the reformation project for a year or two .. subject to CM peeps opinion of how long that should be ... but the bottom line.. if its going to absolutely drive you insane.. because you need a disney perfect landscape.. just get rid of it now ... lifes too short to be pissed off at your garden.. lol .. lastly ... if its planted too close to the house.. and you decide to plant something else .... think about moving away from that wall.. a few more feet ken
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Embothrium
15 years ago
Shady wall should be used for something that needs some shade, the crape myrtle being moved (at the appropriate time) to where it gets full light.
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wliu57
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks.
This CM was plated in the front yard with full sun.
{{gwi:331102}}

And this one in the east-south corner of my backyard.
{{gwi:331104}}

If it get full sun all year around, it should be moved to the north about 5 feet which would be too close to my house. Besides, I wanted it be there for the privacy when it grow to 25-30'

I wonder it will make it or not.

Again, thanks!

Wei
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Iris GW
15 years ago
Does it really need full sun year round? I don't know your climate but I wonder if it does.

Here in the South, crepe myrtles go dormant in the winter, lose all their leaves and just quietly sit there. Come spring, they leaf out in late April or early May and do their thing.

If it gets full sun during the spring/summer months ... perhaps that is enough.
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brandon7 TN_zone7
15 years ago
Hmm, That really is a bad location. Not only is the tree heavily shaded, but, from what you say and from looking at the picture, the area appears to be way too small for most crape myrtles. Do you know how large the particular crape myrtle you have is supposed to grow?

If you really want one at that location, leave it and see what happens. The worse thing that could happen is that the tree wouldn't make it and you'd have to remove it later. You should be able to tell whether it will make it in a fairly short time, so what do you have to loose (except for a crape myrtle)? Other trees might work better, but if it's what you want, give it a try.
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wliu57
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks-brandon7. It will be 20-25' tall. Since it will be much taller than the wall, so it will get enough space when it reach to the wall level. Also since it will be a large tree I don't want it too closer to the house. I will give it a try at that location.
I will keep you posted.
Wei
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A crape myrtle at a location without sun in winter

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brandon7 TN_zone7

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A crape myrtle at a location without sun in winter

Comments (7)

brandon7 TN_zone7

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Embothrium

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