Supposedly, the hardiest are the 'Fauriei' hybrids. How do you know which they are? Well, they were all given names of Native American tribes (Zuni, Hopi, etc.). You will note from the listing below, that 'Dynamite' is not one of the hybrids ('Catawba' is, if you read further). I am in Zone 7a/b, so I see no real difference comparing the Dynamites to the hybrid series.

Here is a link that might be useful: Some Crape Myrtle varieties

This is the second summer for our 2 Dynamites in zone 6a/b. They seem to remain shrubby, but so far no real dieback. Keep them mulched.

"Supposedly, the hardiest are the 'Fauriei' hybrids. How do you know which they are? Well, they were all given names of Native American tribes (Zuni, Hopi, etc.)."

The crape myrtles with native american tribe names are releases from the USNA (at least in all cases I can think of). The tribe names have nothing do do with their parentage, and as a matter of fact, âÂÂCatawbaâÂÂ, âÂÂCherokeeâÂÂ, âÂÂConestogaâÂÂ, âÂÂPotomacâÂÂ, âÂÂPowhatanâÂÂ, and âÂÂSeminoleâ are all examples of native american tribe names for cultivars with no fauriei parentage. Cultivars from other hybridizers with fauriei parentage never (that I can think of) have native american tribe names.

The L indica cultivars (no fauriei parentage), 'Filli Red', 'Filli Coral', 'Filli Violet' are supposedly hardy to zone 4 (at least in certain conditions). 'Sarahs Favorite' is reported hardy to -12F. L. indica 'Whit III' (Pink Velour) is reportedly hardy to -8F.

This post was edited by brandon7 on Fri, Jul 12, 13 at 13:04

So, the information in the attached source is erroneous (similarly reported in multiple references).

Now I'm confused.

Here is a link that might be useful: Indian series Crapes

Essential flowering shrub and small tree in Zone 6 to 9, but now becoming common further North. I observed healthy flowering plants in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and on Long Island....

....The Filligree⢠Series, from FlemingâÂÂs, Nebraska, coral, red, violet, were touted as cold hardy to -30ðF. Absolutely not true. Tested in Athens and so-so. Flower colors not particularly rich. All susceptible to Cercospora leaf spot, particularly âÂÂRed FilliâÂÂ

Here is a link that might be useful: Lagerstroemia- Crapemyrtle: Advances in Crapemyrtle Breeding

This post was edited by bboy on Fri, Jul 12, 13 at 17:22

"So, the information in (Floridata) is erroneous."

Yep, I'd say, at least the way it's written, it's wrong. Many of the USNA cultivars were as stated, but not all.
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"....The Filligree⢠Series, from FlemingâÂÂs..."

As stated above, they "are supposedly hardy to zone 4 (at least in certain conditions)." I think there is little doubt that the Filli cultivars survived successfully, in zone 4, for the hybridizers. Not all zone 4 conditions are the same, as we all know.

Even white-flowered Natchez here is a decided multi-stemmed shrub w/a fair amount of winterkill.

The first point to establish in such discussions is what somebody is calling hardy. Some appear to think if a specimen does not die completely then it can be called hardy. The Flemings claims need to be substantiated with specific information about how the plants tested were handled and what condition the plants were in after -30F - maybe this is available, I haven't looked. Meanwhile, M Dirr stating flatly that it is false that they are that hardy is not a good sign.

This post was edited by bboy on Sat, Jul 13, 13 at 18:24

"The first point to establish in such discussions is what somebody is calling hardy."

Not necessarily. Since Toronado lives in zone 6, I'd expect the Filli series to survive if given decent conditions.

Now, if we were seeking to give a general rating to these plants, that might be a different story. But, that's not the point of this thread.