Lagerstroemia indica, the crape myrtle is a species of flowering plant in the genus Lagerstroemia of the family Lythraceae. It is native to the Indian Subcontinent, and also to Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Japan. The genus name honors Swedish botanist Magnus von Lagerstroem.
It is ideal for use as a small specimen tree or large shrub in a mixed shrub planting. This is an ideal tree for small gardens with its upright non-spreading habit. Can also be used as an informal screen.
Delicate crinkled flowers ranging in colour from pink to red or purple with a slight fragrance bloom from late summer to autumn and are occasionally followed by small brown fruit. Mature trees develop spectacular peeling bark in shades of gray brown and maroon.
Leaves are dark green and turn yellow orange or red before they fall in autumn.
Best in free-draining slightly acid soil in full sun. Will tolerate clay and nutritionally poor sandy soils and are drought tolerant. With a tendency towards brittleness, some shelter will minimise the chance of damage to branches in strong wind.