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Northwestern Gardening

Crepe myrtle....

17 years ago

We live in the Willamette valley and have a crepe myrtle that is two years old. I can't remember when it bloomed last year, but this year, so far, no blooms. Can anyone tell me if this is normal? It looks very healthy, lots of leaves, good growth etc. just no blooms yet.

TIA

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Comments (5)

Embothrium
17 years ago
South Asian origin tree that is built for blazing heat. Collection in hot parking lot at Center for Urban Horticulture, Seattle, now showing some flowering this year. Some kinds there are out now, others aren't--how readily these flower in cool climates depends on which variety they are (there are many kinds). Summers markedly hotter down there in Portland than up here but you may still have one that needs a hot wall to bring it on at all early in the season. Some up here do not manage to get going until autumn, a few may seldom flower at all.
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buyorsell888
17 years ago
Mine is just now starting to bloom. There is one around the corner that is not blooming at all yet and one that has been for two weeks.

I don't think you should worry. Does yours have buds?
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I wouldn't expect the leaves to be going brown in Autumn if it's a crepe myrtle. (They might colour up a little though with something nicer than brown.) Maybe it's an abelia and there's a bit of bronze to it. Surprisingly hard to tell for certain which one it is from the photos; I think one and then the other. Hang on, it's got red flowers. So it must be crepe myrtle. As has already been said, there are dwarf varieties, as in shrub size, but it wouldn't surprise me if by now there are very, very short, squat varieties. And in the pictures, they do look squat. So I'm now saying it's crepe myrtle. Do all the leaves fall off in winter? ETA: Hang on, they stay green in winter?? E(again)TA: Oh that's right, you realised they do fall off. I'm getting old too.
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momto1
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi,
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I just noticed some buds on mine so I guess it'll be ok and probably bloom soon. I'm relieved because it's in a very prominent place in our front yard, and it does get tons of sun!
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aesculus89
17 years ago
I live in Scappoose, Oregon and mine usually don't bloom until August.

- Den
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bobpltman
14 years ago
I planted eight trees of various colors--all where in bloom beautifully at the time. None have bloomed this year. Maybe they will come in later---let's hope!
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