Species crape myrtle
clusters of small, shiny, violet, ruffled flowers with orange-yellow stamens with green leaves

crape myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica 'Baton Rouge'

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Baton Rouge') is a species of flowering tree native to India and Indochina. It is an ornamental and deciduous tree that produces colorful, edible fruits. 'Baton Rouge' is a fast-growing tree with year-round bright red blooms that add a distinguished presence to any garden. It also has a showy, blue-green foliage with wonderful fall hues of red. This variety has an appealing upright growth habit, making it an ideal hedge or accent plant. Crape myrtle is remarkably drought-tolerant, making it the perfect addition to low-maintenance lawns and gardens.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Air Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Cutting,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

6 - 9

Flowers:

Bright red Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

red,burgundy

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Baton Rouge') should be watered deeply and infrequently, approximately twice a week during the summer and once every 2 weeks in the fall, winter and spring. To water this plant species properly, soak the soil around the root area to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. This ensures that the deep root system receives enough water. Be sure to avoid any standing water and water only when the top inch of soil is dry.

sunlight

The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Baton Rouge') requires full sun in order to produce an abundant display of its distinctive white, pink, and lavender flowers. This plant typically needs around 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day in order to thrive, and a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of sunlight is necessary for survival. During especially hot summers, partial shade can be beneficial because it helps protect the foliage from burning and helps to conserve moisture.

pruning

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Baton Rouge') is an ideal choice for a medium-sized tree or shrub. Pruning is important to maintain its health and vigor and enhance its flowering performance. For optimum results, it is recommended to prune your crape myrtle in the late winter or early spring, before the start of active growth. Pruning can involve light to heavy pruning, depending on the desired shape and size of your crape myrtle. Light pruning involves removal of dead and broken branches. For heavier pruning, cut back side branches to no more than 12 inches long for optimal blooming. In addition, you can prune 1-half of the oldest branches to the ground each year to maintain the size and shape of the crape myrtle. Additionally, make sure to regularly remove any sucker growth that may arise from the root area.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Crape myrtles typically begin flowering in late spring or early summer, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Crape myrtles typically begin flowering in late spring or early summer, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map