Experienced grower's notes on Crepe Myrtle

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Crepe Myrtle remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is watering deeply and regularly in the first two growing seasons. Everything else follows from that.

scale insects or aphids in the canopy attracting sooty mould is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a specimen on a lawn as a traditional statement tree for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. exceptional seasonal spectacle from blossom through autumn colour is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. bare winter silhouette revealing branch structure and bark is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.