need crape myrtle help

I am in need of a crape myrtle shrub in either pink or purple to replace an existing one that was damaged. It needs to be at least 6 feet tall. Any idea on where I should look to find one this big? I am going to call a few local places tomorrow. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

They are everywhere around here. Lowes and Home Depot has them. There are so many cultivars. Mine are "Yuma" and they are lavender. "Muskogee" is also lavender but grows to a tree size. "Catawba" is a darker purple. When you get into the pinks there are even more choices. "Osage", "Basham's party pink" and "Sioux" are some of them.

We have them everywhere too. BTW they grow fast so a 4 ft one will be 6ft next year.

They do grow fast, but the problem is this one sits next to six others that are the same size. They are 5-6 years old. I just wanted the sizes to be uniform. That is why I figured I needed one at least 6 feet. I am going to try and call around to the nurseries in the area today.

You need to know what the mature size of the ones you already have planted is supposed to be.
Do you know what specific cultivars they are? The size is a function of the cultivar -- not necessarily the color.
This link has a pretty good table of common cultivars. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hort/landscape/crapemyrtle2.htm

This message was edited Aug 9, 2006 7:41 AM

Will someone please hold my hand and reassure me that there still are none of those critters that can abide zone 5? It would be nice to have one here, but I don't want to plant it and have it dieduring the next bad winter!

Guy S.

I think that if it died, it would only die back above ground. You could just cut it down to the ground in the winter, mulch it heavily, and let it resprout every spring. If you want one I can send you one this fall, they are a dime a dozen around here. I may try to root some of my "Yumas" , they seem to be a little more rare.

You're a gem and I really appreciate your offer, but I'm interested in them for their bark, not their flowers. If you hear of any that might withstand our winters here (above the snow line) I hope you'll pass along the info.

Thanks bud --

Guy S.

"Natchez" has the most appealing bark and it also grows to the largest size. I'll have to look into the hardiness issue. One possibility is to pick a medium size cultivar (10-15ft) and grow it in a container on wheels. It could be "topped" about six foot above ground in the fall and then easily moved into shelter for the winter. When they are topped like this it creates a cascading or weeping effect after new growth starts. The lower trunk would never be pruned so you would still have the peeling bark. "Acoma" is a nice medium size crape myrtle. I have a dwarf "Pixie White" that will never get over 2ft, but it's too small to be noticed in my opinion.

This message was edited Aug 8, 2006 11:51 PM

For a hardy white form, you'll want to at least try 'Sarah's Favorite'; I got mine from Plato Touliatos in Memphis around 1991. Here's the USNA website and criminal history:

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/Herbarium/Lagerstroemia/Checklist_S.html

The Natchez hybrid sounds like a great possibilit (hardy, upright), but I want to grow it outside in tree form if I can find a place where it will survive. The habit of the plant is important to me so I don't want to "crape-murder" it to bring it in every fall. Besides, we already take a whole week each fall to bring in all of our other tender stuff!

Any thoughts about the best planting location? Winter sun problems? Wind? Frozen soil? Wet feet? What's the thing I need to worry most about? Can you find a small one for me and do a swap for something I have up here? Please contact me privately at our web site address so we don't bore everyone else here.

John, Plato told me about Sarah's Favorite when it first came out, but he didn't seem to think it would make it up here. I was unaware of the clandestine operation behind it's release! Since it was named for his wife, was he the guilty party who couldn't bring himself to destroy it? Do you think it might survive here now that we seem to be having hotter summers and milder winters?

I would love to try a white one instead of some of those gaudy hot colors (well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!) that are so difficult to place in the landscape. Are you willing to root one for me?

Guy S.

Tom Dodd Tree Nursery is not very far from me if you would like me to check for you. I am in Semmes quite often. If you would like to try the "Natchez", I can get you one of those for free and send it to you when the weather cools down some.

This message was edited Aug 9, 2006 12:01 PM

That would be terrific, but send me the bill. You can't afford to start subsidizing my addiction!

Guy, I did contact Dodd's tree farm and the lady said that "Sarah's Favorite" would die to the ground in zone5 and resprout in the spring. However she had to look in a book to tell me that. They sell only wholesale and there are no local retail nurseries that carry them. I did see some for sale on e-bay starting at six dollars. I will still get you a "Natchez" though, they are cheap enough to where if they die you haven't lost any money. There are some places around here that throw them in the trash if they don't sell them soon enough.

Well, if you're willing to dumpster dive for me I'll sure give it a shot!
Thanks -- I'll keep you posted as it leafs out magnificently each spring!

Guy S.