Lagerstroemia speciosa, Lagerstroemia flos reginae

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Close

Lagerstroemia speciosa is a small, deciduous tree that grows 10 to 20 feet tall and wide. This plant is native to India and is easily grown in full sun and with regular water. It loves the warm humid climates of USDA Zones 10 to 11. It is flood tolerant and highly ornamental, with beautiful pink, lavender, and purplish-pink flowers that bloom in summer, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. It's a great way to add color and interest to any garden and is considered an ethnomedical plant for its medicinal merits.

In cooler climates, Lagerstroemia speciosa is often grown in large containers and moved indoors for the winter. When growing in containers, use a potting soil that drains well. Make sure to water regularly and fertilize with a well-balanced fertilizer like any other flowering plant. Gradually reduce watering prior to the onset of winter. Prune the tree in the spring once it's fully leafed out. Since Crapes are a fast-growing tree, you'll need to prune throughout the season to shape and size the tree as desired. In colder regions, the plant should be moved indoors before temperatures reach the low 30s F and kept in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight, such as a cool, south-facing window. Keep an eye on the temperature of the room; temperatures below 50 F can cause the tree to go dormant. Regularly mist the foliage to maintain humidity. When the weather warms, move the tree outdoors into dappled sunlight and start to acclimate it to the sun.

Similar plants:

• Lagerstroemia floribunda (Kedah Bungor, Crepe Myrtle)
• Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle)
• Lagerstroemia langkawiensis (Crepe Myrtle)
• Lagerstroemia loudonii (Thai Bungor)
• Lagerstroemia tomentosa (White Crape Myrtle )