Success of Crape Myrtle in South Central PA
Fern2002
19 years ago
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karen_b
19 years agoRelated Discussions
Crape Myrtles & Reflected Southern Sun
Comments (6)Thank you, Ken. But I don't think that really answers my question. Although, I do appreciate your answer, because you have given me some more to think about as far as my planting options. The photos that you have referenced: were they taken in the Deep South? I ask this, because the Hopi Crape Myrtle and other crape myrtles will not grow as large in South Central Kansas as they do in South Carolina due to the colder winters the further North you travel. Many crapes even die back, sometimes to the ground, when the temperature drops below 15 degrees, which does make for nice natural size control. In addition to this, the mid-sized crape myrtles, such as Hopi and Plum Magic, can be kept smaller and still maintain their natural form through pruning, although I may have to do a lot of pruning. So back to my original question, will the Hopi and Plum Magic Crape Myrtles scorch under the conditions I mentioned before? Maybe the answer to my dilemma is to look for varieties of crape myrtles that will definitely die back during the winter but still grow again, flower, and reach my target height by mid-summer. Anyway, please let me know what you think?...See MoreWill Crape Myrtles grow well in Sunset Zone 17
Comments (5)Why plant something so pedestrian as crape myrtles? With San Francisco's benevolent Zone 17 climate, there really isn't any need to try and make do with something that isn't well adapted. There are literally thousands of shrubs from the southern cone of South America, China, New Zealand, the Himalayas, the Andes, Mexico and Central America, the Mediterranean and South Africa that will be right at home. Cestrums, iochromas, salvias, cantuas, brugmansias, shrub fuchsias, alpine bamboos, tibouchinas, michelias, hebes, rhododendrons of almost any section...the possibilities are practically endless....See MoreFragrant Festival, Fragrant Crape Myrtles
Comments (2)Hi, Matt. Very touching story. Thanksd for bringing it here. I think sometimes we are chided in the kindest way, don't you? I never heard of the fragrant herbs being brought in August, but a wonderful custom, for sure....See More'Royal Raindrops' crabapples and Crape Myrtles as street trees?
Comments (13)Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I'm just not ambitious and disciplined enough to maintain that many fruit trees on the parking strips, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the 'Royal Raindrops' crabapples will be approved. I may just plant one Crape Myrtle closer to the south side of the house to get more reflected heat. Thanks gardengal for the info on the 'Royal Raindrops' leaf color. I was hoping it would be more green. Our neighbors have two huge purple-leaf plums, and I wasn't that excited about that many purple-leafed trees around the house. I actually attended Arthur Lee Jacobson's talk at the NW Flower and Garden Show this year. He recommended Malus Tschonoskii crabapples, but WSU put it on their Discard list due to "ornamental only for its narrowly upright form, no showy flowers or fruit". I really want dark-pink spring flowers. Gardengal, do you know how showy the spring flowers are on the 'Royal Raindrops' you planted for your client? Also, Arthur Lee Jacobson doesn't have any info on the 'Royal Raindrops' since they're so new, but Urban Forest Nursery, which specializes in street and landscape trees, recommends it. Urban Forest Nursery Royal Raindrops Flowering Crab profile...See Morewolfe15136
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