which crape myrtle!
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Anonymous
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I have an empty spot on the far side of my driveway where I could put a crape myrtle.
I'm torn on the color. I think Natchez/white is a safe choice, but I already have a large cherry blossom tree that's white in the front yard and while it's gorgeous in bloom, I just wish it had some more color to it. My yard is mostly green with some purple and white flower accents. My house is red brick. So, Natchez? or lavender Muskogee? purple Catawba? Will those clash with red brick? |
Anonymous
| I think of red brick as a neutral color for a house. If your house had purple trim, you might need to consider clashing, but if red brick is the only factor you’re concerned about, I think you should landscape with whatever colors you prefer. |
Anonymous
| None! They are invasive pest trees. Please don't plant one. |
Anonymous
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I would honestly hold off, since bark scale has become a problem.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/crepe-myrtle/crepe-myrtle-bark-scale.htm |
Anonymous
This. One of the most annoying things I pull up in my yard, often after they pry their roots down really far! The seeds go everywhere. I love them, but they are terrible. |
Anonymous
Co-signed. (Owner of 3 mature crap myrtles that I am very much looking forward to removing). |
Anonymous
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I mostly stick to native plants, but I do really like the long-lasting, bright summer color of my crepe myrtle. I do agree that bark scale is a very big issue. I've had to resort to scrubbing the dormant tree with soapy water in winter and giving it a drench of somewhat nasty systemic insecticide in March. I tried using more natural methods, like neem oil, for a season, and the tree's health and flowering really suffered.
If you are ok being vigilant for scale and treating it, I think any number of choices would look great. Personally, I prefer to avoid white, as it browns when the blooms are finishing. I found this list of crape myrtles by size and color to be really useful: https://crapemyrtletrails.org/varieties/complete-list-crape-myrtle/. Agree with PP who mentioned that red brick is essentially neutral. |
Anonymous
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How about a native fringe tree? Like crepe myrtle, you can grow it on a single trunk or multiple.
https://fairfaxgardening.org/fringetree/ Native purple smoke trees are also nice! https://abnativeplants.com/products/cotinus-obovatus |
Anonymous
| What size can your driveway handle, OP? Natchez white gets very large at 30 feet. Crepes come in all sizes now. be sure to nail that down before you even begin to look at leafing or color |
Anonymous
| None. Do you know what bark scale is? i spent several thousand dollars removing 4 trees from my property. The scale was disgusting and hazardous bringing hordes of wasps. |