True RED Crepe Myrtals

I have the dwarfs and the miniatures. I so love both of those plants. The minis stay in a rounded shape, while the dwarfs are more weeping in habit.

Minis towards front, dwarfs further back....

ceejaytown:

WOW! Your property looks phenomenal!!! What have you used as the nice rounded edge around your beds? Do you have other links on Dave's to pictures of your place? It is just gorgeous. What type of grass do you have?

That a fine looking yard. Love all the work you have put into it. Used your photo as a desktop wallpaper. Let me know next year when the Alamo Fire Weeping comes out again there. Ted

I really like the look of the mini. I'm not a big fan of Crape Myrtles. I used to be before I moved to Texas. Seems thats all most people want to plant and it doesn't help that they plant the same ones over and over.

This message was edited Jul 15, 2006 3:46 PM

Ya the standard ones were pink and big. Now with all the mini and dwarf plus the colors make you want to change your mind. Plus being so hardy and care free. The mini's make a wonderful planter. Ted

A couple of years ago there was an article in Southern Living about them. There was a pic of some planted along the street in maybe Georiga or Lousiana that were 20-30 feet tall and bright watermellon red. Now those were some nice trees.

McKinney is know as crapemyrtle city isnt it?

I think so. They planted what they call the Crape Myrtle Trail on Eldorado Pkwy. No variety at all. The same tree over and over. If they had mixed it up with the different types and sizes it could have really been beautiful.

I see your point, No wonder I could not find any varities there. I have six different ones planted now, but the 103 degree and not rain is making it a rough go for them. They were srticks when I planted them this spring.
Mail order is not the way to go. Wanting to start some from cuttings if I ever find someone who has some mini's.

Thank you for the compliments. It isn't finished yet, but isn't that always the case? I hate the stakes on the Montezuma Cypress tree, but many of you may remember the story there. 6-8 feet of the top were bent back against the tree after Rita came through. We had to tie the top to a stake to keep it upright, and stake it at the base to stop the lean it had acquired. Then, this spring, we had a freak storm that hit our yard only. Apparently a wind sheer bent the tree to the ground from about 5 foot up the trunk, right above where the bottom stakes were holding it upright. The tree guy said to cut it down, we wouldn't be able to raise it. But we have a friend that really likes that tree, and he came over (DH was out of town) and got it back up by means of a pulley that he rigged. We'll be loosening the stakes soon so the tree can develop some muscle. I hope no hurricanes come through to knock it back down; that was a first for us.

Tir - That is a raised bed (essential here) and it is simply edged where it meets the St Augustine lawn.

Ted - What is Alamo Fire Weeping? I am honored to be wallpaper! I agree with you. I love the minis and dwarfs, and they provide such glorious color during the summer when so many other things are suffering. And I have never had aphids or powdery mildew on them, I just realized. We also have four humoungous crapes in the back yard - they were here when we moved in back in '93. I think they are Basham's Pink, but the flowers can only be seen from, say, the front street because they are so tall. But their smooth, muscular multi-trunks are the focal point of that garden bed.

Ted, I could send you some cuttings from these minis if you want this color....

CeeJay! WOW!

Vos, HD in Missouri City, Highway 6 & Murphey Rd./ FM 1092.

Scoolie,

I know what you mean about seeing to many crepe myrtals. But I haven't been able to tire of them since moving to SA because you don't seem them to often....definately NOT a city into landscaping here. I woulda thought Bryan/College Station was a crepe capital. Between the city landscaping plan and A&M the place is decked out with pretty spots. They do use many of the same pink myrtals but it is really nice that every year they trim them all at the tops evenly so they always look crisp. Here in SA I see so many mesquites and oaks I thought I'd go bonkers! Not saying they are not GREAT trees. But I just miss the variety I grew up with in Michigan.

Ceejaytown,

What kind of edging did you use, metal? Looks great! Did you have to landscape the whole thing? How long has it taken to mature this way?

TIr,

We had a lot of variety in West Virginia also.

Ah, I was thinking you weren't from around here either. =) I love Texas but the trees and birds I've noticed just aren't as varied.....

Thats true. I've been here going on 18 years and I saw my first Blue Jay this morning and my first humingbird this afternoon.

I've been pleasantly surprised to see hummingbirds around my place but I think you must have to do something special (special food) to attract the colorful species but typically all I see is black birds or little martins. I have seen 1 robin in 4 years of being here but she was dead when I saw her =(. I am SO HAPPY you have seen a blue jay! We used to see those every day where I grew up and Mom used to talk to them from the porch (also take in the wounded and nurse to health) so I think fondly of mom when I see many specie of birds.

You are kidding me! This is the central flyway for migratory birds. Maybe they don't get as far west as San Antonio, though. I don't know...

All I've seen are the doves, grackles, sparrows, finches, martins and a couple of blue birds. Haven't seen a robin or cardinal, no chickadees either.

Oh yeah, the gray doves are common here. I suppose they do have their share of birds but it wasn't the many colors like I was used to.

Well, another reason to put up with this humidity - birds!

You know that is weird now you mention it, I have not seen a cardinal. We have the cutest little brown doves, blue jays, hummingbirds, sparrows, and I don't remember a robin.

2 months ago seen my first turkey vulture, yesterday I saw the first owl in quite a while, we see buzzards, And we have a red headed woodpecker. Here is the home he made in my tree but He will now sit for a picture. It is where lightning struck a couple years ago. you can tell were it split the bark and he put his duplex.

When lightning stuck it took out the garage door opener, tv, computer modem, telephone, and fried the phone box outside where it hit the tree and then the box. wish it was not so high up as I would hang a sign that says peck before entering.

hmm....I'm so happy that I have the birds that I do..I've managed to attract brown-headed grosbeaks, inca-white wing and mourning doves, LOTS of hummingbirds each day, king birds, mockingbirds,cardinals, blue jays, house finches, wintering chickadees and goldfinches, a shrike, grey phoebes (which I loved..lol), a blue scrub jay and even a breeding pair of red-tailed hawks that roost on the power line tower. And I'm right smack dab on the edge of a sub-division...tho my backyard overlooks a crispy cow pasture..lol

And I have the cardinals and robins too, nesting right here. Had a Cooper's hawk come through the other day and hang around awhile. I wanted him gone! He takes out songbirds....And the pond (water trap) on the golf course behind me gives me great egrets and great blue herons. Oh yes, and black crowned night-heron. Have also had the yellow-crowned night-heron. little blue heron, and the green-backed heron. (I happen to LOVE herons, so they are a special treat.) We have the pileated woodpecker too, and the red breasted woodpecker - just a going to town on our gutters. LOUD! We have also been purple martin landlords since 1983 - when we lived in Oklahoma, and never skipped a year when we moved down here.
So I guess all of this humidity (and BOY!, is it humid today!!) pays off, eh?

CeeJay go to the bottom of this link. http://www.growise.com/fanickcrapemyrtle2.pdf
Being trialed and developed by Jerry Parsons, Ph.D., is the horticulture specialist with the Texas Cooperative Extension in San Antonio that has plant answers on TV. in your area.
I would love some cuttings of that one.
Do a search on the web and you will see a picture of it.

This message was edited Jul 16, 2006 12:12 PM

You want the Longstar Lavender - the tree? I'm sorry, I thought you wanted a cutting from a mini... Well, I tell ya what - if I ever see one, I'll get out my little carry along "shopping" utensils, and get one for you!
I couldn't find it on the web, however. Tried longstar and lonestar...

http://www.valleygrow.com/ They have dynamite and Red Rocket for 9.99.


edited to say the Reds not minis

This message was edited Jul 16, 2006 5:33 PM

Go down to item # 70 on the link. Alamo Fire Weeping.
Yes I want cuttings from the Mini.
Dont know where lonestar came into this. I read my post and clicked on the link. You wanted to know about Alamo Fire. Thanks Ted

What is the mildew spots people have referenced on the crepe myrtals?

When I do take a cutting from someone's crepe what should I look for to ensure it's in good health?

TIA!!!

Ah, Ted - I didn't reference back to the Alamo Fire Weeping - slept in between and went brain dead - again! So I just went to the link and scrolled down to the bottom and "viola" (yes, I meant to say viola), it said Longstar Lavender....Sorry.

ceejay, WOW. You pics are inspiring.

I have to jump in the boat with Tir, I would like some reds myself. Purchased two whites one being a dwarf variety (I think I lost it) but the full size is fighting to stay alive. Want color and crepes do so well in landsccaping-- color in spring and summer and bark in fall and winter. Great additions to any yard. don;t like the pinks though.

Got to agree with SA being behind on the "green" idea. and pro demolition. Sometimes It feels that as a whole SA is more interested in food, drinks, and industry than anything else, exceptions of course are always made---ie all DGers in the area. and some others who have yet to discover Dave's Garden website.

thanks for all the information and Tir thanks for the post.
calvin

As I drive through some of our neighborhoods I love driving down those streets where they have planted CM along the median- everything else looks dead- what wouldn't in this heat, but the CM are always vibrant and alive. I can't say they are my favorite but during our awful summers they thrive and you cannot deny their beauty and place in the southern landscape.

I agree with ya there...aprilwillis. The Myrtles are really showing off right now along with Esperanzas...and just about everything else is showing the sun stress. I'm not much of a myrtle person either (lol, that sounds funny) but everyone around here got me so darn excited about the Dynamite, that I went out to Rainbow Gardens and bought one, lol. It was only 6.99, and like I was telling Tir_, they were selling out pretty quick. Still have some big ones for 69.99. But my wee tree is already getting its deep red blooms...the problem now is WHERE to put it..it does have a little card on a stem that reads "mildew resistant." :)

I often prefer to buy the 6.99 size vs the more expensive 69.99- and the Dynamite is sure going to be gorgeous, no mater what you put it!

Wish I could find one for 6.99.

yeah and me. So far the best I have found is the dwarf red for 16.99 or 15.99 whatever it was @ HD.

A HD in Austin today on FM 620 had some Red Rocket ones for like 15. They weren't the true red, more dark watermelon red. Glad to know the Dynamite is mildew resistent!

Niv, glad to know someone else who's noticed the lack of design for SA. Funny because I worked with a guy graduating from college and he moved to SA way before me with his landscape architect degree and was hired by the city of SA! I'm wondering if he has a lot of down time. lol. =) Hopefully with all the news in the press about SA being undervalued (have you noticed property values going up already) and all the industry being brought in...SA will place more attention on beautification. Meantime us Dave's folks will spruce it up with our yards. =)

Was in Dallas and they had Victor which is deep red and a dwarf at 6 to 8 ft. 16.00 each in large container. About mybe two gal. Will get one come fall as these 106 degree days would be too much for them.

TxT___ thanks for to touch and bump on Rainbowgardens.
Ithink I will try and go there tommorrow to see if they have any left. I am considering cutting all the trunks on my white CM down to only one. Researching about the heat and this kind of heavy pruning to a CM. Currently have two main trunks and two little offshoots now. on main trunk would look better in the yard and serve a better purpose than many trunks.

CAlvin

Your very welcome...calvin.. :) I feel as tho I'm constantly promoting Rainbow Gardens around here, lol. But honestly, its the only nursery that I go to...and their nurserymen are VERY knowledgeable about everything that they grow...esp. with natives and xeriscape plants which are their specialty. They had tons of myrtles...ALL sorts of roses too..if you're into rose gardening.