Crepe Myrtle Trees in Salt Lake Valley

13 years ago

I would like to get a couple Crepe Myrtle trees for our yard but am not sure if they will grow here. Does anyone know if it is possible?

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Comments (5)

abq_bob
13 years ago
I doubt it. They're only supposed to be hardy to Zone 7, and Most of Salt Lake is Zone 5 or Zone 6 if you want to push it a bit. If you did get them to survive, I'm sure they would die to the ground each winter, so they'd be more like a small herbaceous shrub that re-sprouts if it makes it through the winter.
pcan
Original Author
13 years ago
I have checked my zone several times from several different sources and I see Zone 5, Zone 6 and zone 6b. I am pretty sure I am zone 6. Anyway I did some searching and found the Hopi Crepe Myrtle. It is supposed to be the hardiest of the species and is supposed to grow in zone 6. But they do not get very big. I think it was about 7 to 10 feet. Has anyone ever grown a Hopi before? I am thinking about it but would need to pick the right spot.
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I planted two Natchez crape myrtles (one five stem) here in Central VA years ago, and tomorrow the one in front is coming down. The guy will also grind the stump. Reading about suckers is not making me happy. These trees attract Japanese beetles big time, where they have a love fest every year. They cannot be treated, as at the same time, the honey bees are busy in the flowers. When the JB finish their life cycle, they drop to the lawn (the crape is planted in the lawn) and then a local racoon digs up my turf every winter looking for the larvae! Sorry I ever planted these trees, as they are messy...dropping flower sap onto the gravel path which then turns black all summer. Leaf raking a real chore...at least three times per fall, as leaves don't fall all at once. The large crape in the rear lawn will be drastically pruned/thinned out now too. Of course, wherever the cut is made, suckers will shoot out. These trees are more like weeds than landscape material!!! I have pruned these Natchez in winter, but the timing does not seem to matter...they still sucker. It is now August, and time will tell how the rear one reacts. It too may go into the chipper in the near future, but since I installed it for western shade, it does perform that task. In my next life, I will never plant crape myrtles unless they are waaaaay out in a field! And goodness me, spell this plant correctly...crApe not crEpe myrtle. And for every person guilty of crape murder (cutting off the tops every year), shame on you!!!
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Crepe myrtles are blooming
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Comments (14)
Here in Northeastern Ohio, I have been growing the "Zuni" crepe myrtle for about 5 years. Some years it dies back completely to the ground, others it doesn't die back at all, depending on the severity of the winter. I planted a small "Catawba" last year that had very little tip die back after -3F. One thing is for sure that no matter how much they die back the always regrow very quickly and flower in August, when not much else is in bloom. Also, I have had good luck with Edith Bogue Southern Magnolia here and this year planted two 8 ft. Bracken's Brown Beauty... We'll see how they do. Finally just a note and some observations for those who might want to try crepe myrltes up here--- Our temps in NE Ohio seem to be somewhat influenced and moderated by Lake Erie, so the extreme cold isn't as severe as mid Ohio, but cold below 32F is more persistent which can be just as dangerous to marginal plant survival... Luckily, more than generous lake effect snow cover can aid in the survival of old wood on crepe myrtles allowing for less damage to occur. Also our consitant cloud cover and lack of sun in the winter may seem like a curse, but it is a blessing to many marginally hardy broadleaved evergreens, because the summer sun, in particular appears to do more damage by drying out evergreens such as Holly, Rhododendrons, and Southern Magnolias. these are just some of my personal observations. I look forward to here what others have to say on this.
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Free crepe myrtle tree - you dig
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Comments (16)
>I guess I'm assuming in this particular instance that you'll never get a crape myrtle with a 5" diameter trunk out of the ground without losing 80-90% of the rootsFrom The Myth etc. linked to above: Obviously, the practice of pruning the crown of a transplanted tree or shrub does not reflect what actually happens to the plant physiologically. In addition to interfering with the plant's ability to establish its roots, the removal of a significant portion of the crown also means the plant has lost biomass and cannot photosynthesize at its previous level. Thus, plants that have been top pruned are hit with a "double whammy:" part of their photosynthetic system is removed, and those resources that are left are directed towards new shoot development. It's no surprise that root establishment under these conditions is difficult
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Crepe myrtle....
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Comments (5)
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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bcreighton7
13 years ago
No for most crepe myrtles, but there are a few new northern varieties you will have to get if you want success. I have a ToTo which stayed out in a pot last year and did fine. Planted it this year, but out front where it will get more winter wind - we'll see.
bcreighton7
13 years ago
Sorry, that should be a Tonto (red) crepe myrtle.
lassiedeb
13 years ago
There are a couple of crepe myrtles that are thriving - long term - in Salt Lake City. They are in the Sugarhouse area on 17th South and 21st East. One is on a south facing wall of the brick home on the north east corner of the intersection and is a beautiful pink color when in bloom. The other is planted on an east facing wall (kind of s.e. corner of the house) of the home on the northwest corner of that same intersection. It is a deeper more lavendar pink when in bloom. I have no idea of the cultivars but these have been growing there for years and wintering over with no other apparent protection. I would say they are about 8' tall. I always enjoy driving by these when they bloom. Makes me think of Memphis, where I first saw this beautiful kind of tree.

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Crepe Myrtle Trees in Salt Lake Valley

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abq_bob

pcan
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Crepe Myrtle Trees in Salt Lake Valley

Comments (5)

abq_bob

pcanOriginal Author

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lassiedeb

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pcan
Original Author