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Crape Myrtles?

14 years ago

I am looking for a flowering white tree to plant in my front yard (fairly close to my house.) I am in Cleveland Ohio--which I thought was zone 5, but some sites list it as zone 6? At first I thought a white flowering cherry would be perfect, but now I'm not sure that the shape will be a good fit. I think I'd like something a bit more wide and natural rather than compact/umbrella like the cherry.

I have been googling my heart out trying to find the right fit, and I can't seem to find it---would love some suggestions! I LOVE the crape myrtle trees (especially the red ones, but because I'm planting tons of double knock-out red roses along the porch I'm worried it will be too much red, and that the reds won't match.) So, I thought maybe a white crape myrtle. When I go on the ordering websites, they list Ohio as a zone that is fine for this type of tree.... However, everything I read seems to point to the fact that it doesn't do well in the cold and is more of a southern tree. Any thoughts about this type of tree? If you think it would be a bit risky, any other suggestions of trees that are similar in shape/flowering white? Thanks so much!

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Comments (3)

chrsvic
14 years ago
I wouldn't recommend a crape myrtle where you live. I live in SW Ohio, and ive tried about 3 times to grow crape myrtles - and they've never made it through the winter. I even tried the so-called hardier cultivars. They might survive in a really sheltered location.

Ive seen crape myrtles and even southern magnolias grown here, but it must be site location, cultivar, and luck. Yet, there are a ton of crape myrtles for sale at Wal Mart down the street.

I don't know how tall you want your white tree to be, but a good small one that can get wider than tall is Sargent's crab. I love them, the only fault i found with them is they tend to flower heavily only every other year.
joannemb
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you! That's all I needed to hear. I guess deep down I had a feeling my zone is too cold (regardless of what some sites say.) I like the Sargent's crab--pretty! It seems to have light pink blossoms though... or do they come pure white too?
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Chas045 wasn't belittling you at all. He meant "it might be a draw" to prune it like that because crape myrtles bloom on new wood only. It will grow bigger branches for you and bloom better this summer. That is why alot of people and landscapers cut the crape myrtle back like that. Don't worry about it, it will be fine. You won't even notice it in a couple years, they grow really fast. It will bloom better for you, wait and see. Smile and be happy.
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the base problem.. is that .. as a babe.. it was planted for the size of the plant at point of sale ... with no real concept of its future potential ... once it stated growing.. 1 or 2 feet from the foundation .. there was no choice as to pruning ... but crape murder ... its simply to big a plant.. for where it is planted ... sometimes its easier to cut bait ... and start over ... and either plant it a bit further away ... OR ... buy a plant with smaller potential ... OR ... properly prune it every other year or two ... on the other hand ... [its never simple... lol] ... and do understand i have never had a CM up here in MI ... so i will defer if i am way off base ... you might try hardcore renovation ... go in there and remove the largest 1/3 of the trunks ... trying to get it to resprout way down low ... next year ... take the second third ... etc ... inside 3 years .. you will have refreshed the whole plant.. to new vital growth .. which you can train properly over the years .. [until you move and leave this nightmare for the next peep .. lol] .. upside here .. you learn a lot about pruning ... downside ... its right in front of the house .. perhaps not the best place for such an experiment ... https://duckduckgo.com/?q=renovation+pruning+of+crape+&t=ffcm&ia=web when i bought my first house.. there was a slew of 40 year plus shrubs... and i wanted to save them .. for the history of the house ... 5 years later i removed the last nightmare ... one of the happiest garden days in that garden ... pshaw on house history .... after all.. i didnt keep the paisley 3 inch shag rugs either.. lol ... https://flashbak.com/selling-harvest-gold-shag-carpet-ads-from-the-1960s-1970s-385094/ play around.. learn to prune.. but keep it in mind.. that removal might be the best answer ... of course.. if you are an instant gratification type.. just do it now ... ken
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cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
14 years ago
I love the white crabapple! We have two in the strip between sidewalk and street and if our city arborist would let us take out the half-dead cherry in between them, I'd put in another. They do, if I remember correctly, have a little pink on the bud, but the blossoms are white and mine is full every year. It's my favorite. If you don't limb it up, you could end up with some very interesting multiple trunks. My parents had two fabulous ones on either side of their drive in SE Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, when we sold the house, our neighbor there told me the new owner took them down. Too bad.

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