Crepe Myrtles in pots

I saw in a magazine where they put these in pots on a deck. Can they handle this? I would love to do this but I don't want to do it if they are just going to die.
Thx
dawn

I don't see why they couldn't--I'd probably go for one of the smaller cultivars rather than one that wants to be a big tree, but I think it would do OK. The only thing you might need to watch out for is winter--being in a pot typically knocks about a zone off the hardiness since the roots don't have the nice insulation of being planted in the ground, and I think crapes are only hardy to about a zone colder than you, so if you are expecting some super cold weather you may want to protect them (or sink the pots in the ground for the winter)

Thaks ecrane. I think I may try this then. Sure would help brighten up my deck!

Dawn, this link list some popular cultivars by size. If you choose the smaller ones as ecrane suggests, they should be fine. The size of the pot will dictate the size to buy maybe aiming for 24" pots for the dwarfs. For a dramatic statement, larger pots will accommodate the taller growing cultivars. Of course, you would have to devise a way to protect the rootball against freezing. I have some 30" potted plants that go into the greenhouse every winter, but that's my limit. Larger pots could probably be wrapped with bubble wrap and blankets or burlap. http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/L331.htm

Is there any chance of keeping a crepe myrtle in zone 5? A potted dwarf would be wonderful, but over wintering, without a green house or unheated garage, seems impossible.

Planted in the ground, crepe myrtles are hardy only to plant zone 6. So, no. Just a few nights of freezing temperatures would kill them unless they are taken indoors. Do you have a basement?

No basement :( Thanks for the reality check. I guess I'll just have to admire them in the catalogues. Or treat the dwarfs like annuals. Probably too pricey. But I have a weekend In Bristol TN coming up the the week of March. I might visit a nursery or two just to see.

In my area (Zone 5b), crepe myrtles have been surviving for the past five winters. They do die back to the ground, but the roots sprout (late) and they grow like weeds. Depending on the variety, I've seen they get up to 8' by August. Since they bloom on new wood, they put on quite a show. I've also had one in a pot for four years. I keep it in the unheated garage over winter. It does not die back. There are supposed to be some new varieties this year that are "hardy" to Zone 4 I believe, but are expected to die back to the ground and should be treated as herbaceous perennials. Either way, you can enjoy crepe myrtles in your zone. I've seen them for sale at the big box stores, but usually not until late summer.

Thanks Betty, I will most definatley check that sight out. That would like so pretty on my deck. Even if it didnt bloom it would still be pretty

HoosierGreen Oh what a precious bit of info! Any particular cultivars that you would recommend?

It's kind of weird. What's happening (I stop by the places I see them growing and ask the homeowners), is that the big box stores are selling crepe myrtles and people buy them for their yards. Of course, crepe myrtles are not supposed to be hardy here in Central Indiana, but the big box stores and the people buying them evidently don't know that... and they grow! Every one of the people I've talked to just thought they were pretty and verify that they've come back year after year, for the past four or five years now. Most didn't even remember what they were. I've seen this happening now in this zone with loblolly pines, blue Atlas cedars, nandina and quite a few half-hardy perennials such as Brazilian verbena. I don't know if it's global warming or just a mild series of winters (although they don't seem all that consistently warmer), but it's happening.
So, I don't have any varieties to recommend and don't remember the name of the "new" series of hardier varieties. I did read about them somewhere, but maybe the internet would have some info (although I can't find it yet when I checked). I'd say just buy whatever you see and try it out. Good luck.

I'm gonna try some in pots this year. I think I'll be able to leave them outside for the winter too. I can move them up against the house in a protected area. If I have to I can put them in my greenhouse.
dawn

That should work just fine. Good luck!

If you can find the selection called 'Sarah's Favorite', you might find some success up into zone 5.

This plant has proven hardier than most. My original plant came from Trees by Touliatos in Memphis, when I was down there for a TN holly society meeting back in the early '90s. Except for being killed to the snowline in 1994 (that winter everything fried when temps plunged to -28ºF), 'SF' crape myrtle has performed brilliantly here. It's 15 feet tall or more now, very easy to propagate from cuttings, bright white flowers produced copiously, very nice bark for central KY, and exceptional mixed orange/red/purple fall colors.

Did I mention I like this plant?

Beyond 'SF', I'd give the National Arboretum selections a go. 'Acoma', 'Hopi', 'Pecos', and 'Zuni' were the ones rated hardier for KY nurserymen back when I kept up with those things. I have 'Hopi' in the yard, too.

Ah Hah! Well, each winter I start a "new plants to consider" wall in the office with notes, pictures or references all tacked on from surfing the net, catalogues and other sources. Come spring I cull the list to space available and "how bad do I want it". Those cultivars you listed VV are firmly at the head of the line. Some Chamaecyparis are probably going to get bumped off. Thanks. I really appreciate it.