Crepe Myrtle tree with mildew (?), white stuff on blossoms

I'd like to know what to do about white stuff on pretty fuschia blossoms. I went to the nursery where I bought it and was told that brown around edges of leaves was probably from frost last winter. (It was still at the nursery then.) Looked bad, but probably would live. This white stuff did not amount to much then, but now is bad. If it is mildew, what do I do? Thanks

Can you post a picture? Some cultivars of Crape Myrtle are susceptible to powdery mildew, but that's generally only a real problem in humid climates so I'm not sure why you'd be seeing it, I have never ever seen one with problems here, and I don't think your area is that much more humid than it is here. And I think the mildew tends to be more on the leaves rather than on the flowers too, but I could be wrong. I also wouldn't trust that nursery too much--the tree wouldn't have had leaves during last winter's frost since they're deciduous and our freezing weather was in January, so I don't see how a frost that occurred before the leaves existed could have possibly made the leaves turn brown around the edges!

We have lost our digital camera, so no pic! We live only about a couple miles from the coast, as the crow flies, in So. Cal. The nursery says it is powdery mildew, from just my description, but I am not very familiar with that stuff, having just moved here recently. I trimmed as much of it off as I could today, and cleared out small branches and leaves that were thick in the center of the tree, for better air corculation and I did notice that the buds that get the most sun did not have much of the white stuff while those in afternoon shade had much more. Also quite a few of our vegetables seem to have mildew. Thanks for your help!

That's what it sounded like to me too, I just haven't heard of too many people out here having problems with it, usually it's people who live in the really humid parts of the country that have problems with it. But if the tree's in shade in the afternoon that helps create the right conditions for various types of fungus. You might consider replacing yours with one of the cultivars that's more resistant. The "Indian Tribe" hybrids I think are resistant, and I'm sure there are some others as well. Since the plant's still young it's easier to do it now than 10 years from now after you get tired of fighting the mildew every year! Some nurseries have guarantees on their plants so you might even be able to take it back there and exchange it for a different variety.

I went googling for a good pic and this is the best I could find. scroll down to powdery mildew and see if that is what you have.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/pp318/profiles/map/pom6.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/pp318/profiles/map/cm.htm&h=378&w=200&sz=25&hl=en&start=13&um=1&tbnid=nZ-GsCA44zDYpM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=65&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpowdery%2Bmildew%2Bcrape%2Bmyrtle%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26sa%3DN

In my area, the mildew is more of a nuisance factor. We spray neem oil, avail. at HD/Lowes and one or two treatments suffice, unless the cultivar you have happens to be one of the ones prone to it. Still, neem oil is quite effective.

CM are also susceptible to fungus from excessive watering/rains/poor drainage and I have lost a plant or two. But it manifests itself as blackening of leaves, quickly and fatally. I'm pretty sure the white stuff you describe is powdery mildew.

Thanks for your help! We do have a lot of morning fog and overnight dampness. The picture doesn't look anything like what I have. It is almost pure white and thick. I'm assuming powdery mildew. I will take a cutting in to Lowe's and see what they say.