Growing Crepe Myrtles

I live in Columbus, Ohio, zone 6a and I have 3 myrtles. I've had one in for about 4 years. Every year it dies back to the ground. At first I thought it was dead, but by June or so it showed signs of life and finally bloomed very late summer and it's done that since. After it grows new branches I just break off the dead ones. And, yes, they're really dead! It's supposed to grow to 20 feet, but how is it supposed to do that if it never uses the old wood? One of the two I've had in for 2 1/2 years (a Velma) finally bloomed last summer and the other, never. Am I just too far north? Thanks for any info!

It's your zone that's the problem--if you lived farther south then it wouldn't die back over the winter. Unless you have a super mild winter it's going to die back every year and have to start growing all over again so it'll never get to 20 ft tall. As far as blooming, they typically bloom in summer/fall, but I could see that if they are basically dormant until June they might not have enough time to bloom (mine typically start to leaf out by March). If you want to help them out a bit, you could try mulching heavily around it for the winter, that may help it start to put out new growth a bit earlier in the year and give it a better chance to bloom. I also think there might be a couple cultivars that are a little more hardy than others, maybe someone else who lives in a cold area will know which ones those are, maybe they wouldn't die back every year or would at least bounce back quicker in the spring.

Jen T

I'm in St. Louis (zone 6) and have 3 different varieties. All die to the ground and seem slow to come up in spring. They look so dead that a landscaper wanted to get me new ones. I had to tease him to have more patience... I fertilize with good fertilizer in spring and sometimes spray any extra Messenger I have on them. They get 4-6ft tall and have LOADS of blooms. I haven't done this, but you could try cutting back to 3ft in fall and using large styrofoam rose bush insulator/protector (if there's an official name then it's escaping me LOL) It might get you a bit more height...

Holly

The one I've had the longest blooms every year for quite a while, but never gets taller than about 3 feet. I've moved all three to a bed this spring with protection on the west side; maybe it'll cut down on the more severe elements over the winter. Actually, now 2 weeks after moving them my oldest one actually has new growth on one of the old branches! So, I imagine you're both right about my zone: I'm right at the northern edge of the zone it's supposed to be hardy in, so I knew I'd be pushing it! Maybe they'll be happier where I've put them now. They used to be in my side yard out in the open with no protection. Thanks for your responses!
Jennifer

Well, this summer all three plants had insane growth! Now I'll probably have to move the darn things 'cause they're too big for the space! Go figure. Unfortunately, the one still hasn't bloomed. I'm not even sure what color it's supposed to be! =)

Your thread has given me the information I needed to go ahead and plant crepe myrtles. I'm in zone 7and have always been under the impression they were not for us here. Now I will start to research a little and see which I like best. They all flower in the pink/purple range don't they?

i am in zone 9 and lost all mine (planted this year) to frost. after reading this now i have hopes they will come back. i thought they were terminal. thanks

Crape (crepe) Myrtles are not just available in the pink/purple range. See here!

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=lagerstroemia&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

There are all kinds of colors, from pure white on through pinks, reds, purples, etc. No orange, yellow, black or green, though.

They all like summer heat, though - if you are in a cool cloudy climate (like England) they might not do so well.

For northerly folks like JenT (who now seems to have no trouble growing hers), 'Sarah's Favorite' is regarded as one of the hardiest selections. It has white flowers, and has exceptional fall foliage colors as well. It was frozen back to the snow line in January 1994 by -28ºF temperatures, but has never wavered since. It is now in the 15-20' range with plenty of flowers every year. I've propagated from it often and have more specimens of it planted around the Valley.

I do recall seeing Arapahoe planted around here, Seattle, and they were tall. I wonder if that one is particularly suited to our area-gray and cloudy. And by the way Viburnum, if there is no yellow or orange, that is what I call the pink/purple range-that's just me I guess.