Nicknamed the Lilac of the South, the crape myrtle is a popular summer bloomer that decorates the gardens and landscapes of the southern United States. Its bright pink, red, and lavender blossoms have earned this hot-weather shrub the nickname. If you’re a crape myrtle fanatic or a new gardener seeking an easy-to-grow ornamental, this is the guide for you. I’ll go over crape myrtle growing tips, maintenance musts, and more.
What Is a Crape Myrtle?
This flowering tree gets its name from the stunning flowers that cluster its branches and its small, myrtle-like leaves. Despite the similar leaf shape, the crape myrtle isn’t an actual myrtle tree. They’re popular ornamental shrubs known for their vibrant flowers. Crape myrtles are native to parts of Asia but grow in many warm regions worldwide.
According to Piedmont Master Gardeners, ‘crepe myrtle’ is a typical southern spelling of the plant’s name, while ‘crape myrtle’ is often used for other cultivars of the species. Regardless, both spellings refer to the same deciduous shrub, scientifically titled Lagerstroemia indica.
How To Collect Crape Myrtle Seeds
Crape myrtles bloom in late summer, producing bold flowers and round, green seed pods.
The tree is well-known for its long flowering season, which can exceed 120 days from early summer into mid-fall. As the season progresses, the berries will turn into pods that hold the tree’s seeds. You can harvest the seeds to produce new growths or leave them on the tree as a food source for native birds.
Smithsonian ornithologist Gary Graves says the following about crape myrtle seeds:
“A large crape myrtle tree (20 feet tall) can produce a few pounds of seed each year. They produce brown, ovoid capsules with six cavities, each containing four-winged seeds. There are approximately 570,000 individual seeds in 2.3 pounds of crape myrtle seed. That’s a lot of seeds when you consider there are tens of millions of crape myrtle trees growing in the southeastern U.S. from Virginia to Texas.”
Crape myrtle seeds are plentiful, and you can collect them from your own crape myrtle trees. To collect seeds, you first need to know which parts of the crape myrtle are seed capsules and which are flower bulbs that haven’t yet opened.
This video from the LSU AgCenter demonstrates how to differentiate crape myrtle seed pods from flower buds.
Once you’ve located your crape myrtle’s seed pods, you can begin collecting them for planting. Harvest your tree’s seeds in the fall or winter, depending on when the pods have dried up and turned browned. Simply shake the dried capsules to release seeds, catching them in a bowl or net.
After collecting the seeds, store them in a jar or paper bag until you’re ready to plant them.
How To Germinate Crape Myrtle Seeds
You’ll germinate your crape myrtle seeds before planting them in your garden. Germination is the sprouting of a seed, spore, or other reproductive body. I recommend starting the germination process in early spring so your new growths will be ready for planting by summer.
You can try a couple of methods to encourage the germination of crape myrtle seeds. Spread your seeds between two paper towels. Place the paper towels in a plastic bag, then saturate the towels with water using a spray bottle. Push excess air from the bag so it lays flat. Then, zip it closed.
Another method is to fill a container with one to two inches of potting soil and drop in the crape myrtle seeds. Cover the seeds with a generous amount of water using a spray bottle, and then sprinkle a thin layer of potting mix over them. Spray the contents of the container with water one more time, and then place the container in a resealable plastic bag. Keeping the container in a bag will produce the humid environment needed for germination.
Crape myrtle seeds typically take two to three weeks to germinate. A successfully germinated seed will produce a white root or tiny green sprout.
Plant the seeds from the paper towel method in a container of potting mix at the first sign of root development. The earlier you transfer the seedling to the soil, the less chance you’ll have of damaging the delicate root. Once the seeds from either method sprout out of the dirt and have one or two sets of leaves, it’s time to plant them in their permanent place.
Other Ways To Grow Crape Myrtles
Crape myrtles grown from seeds may differ in color from their parent plant. You can grow new plants by cutting the roots or cuttings from a crape myrtle in your garden. New trees created from an existing plant’s roots or cuttings will be of the same variety as the parent plant.
From the Roots
In the late winter, dig around the base of your crape myrtle tree and cut off several 3-inch sections of root. Then, place the root cuttings about four inches deep in a composted bed. Mulch the soil regularly and mist the area with water to create a humid environment.
Once the root cuttings produce stems and leaf nodes, move them to their permanent place in your garden. Try planting them by early spring to be ready by the growing season.
From the Cuttings
Start by cutting a new growth from your crape myrtle tree during the summer growing season. Cut the growth into 5-inch sections, each with several leaf nodes growing from the sides. Take out the bottom leaves so the cutting is a thin stick with two to four leaves at the top.
Dipping the bottoms of the stems in a rooting hormone can help your roots grow quickly. Then, stick the cuttings down in a container or bed of moist potting mix. Mulch the area with peat moss or sphagnum moss to encourage the cuttings to take root.
Place the containers in a shaded location, regularly misting them with a spray bottle. The cuttings should take root one to two months after planting. Finally, move the rooted cuttings to their permanent location during the fall or early winter.
Factors to Consider When Growing Crape Myrtles
When gardening any tree or shrub, educate yourself on which conditions are conducive to proper plant growth. The crape myrtle tree is a versatile, hardy plant that thrives well in various environments. Crape myrtles generally grow between 15 to 25 feet tall, so most trees take five to 10 years to mature. These trees live more than 50 years when properly maintained.
Here are some best practices to follow when growing your crape myrtle.
| Climate | The crape myrtle grows best in hot, sunny locations. Depending on the variety, crape myrtles can live in Plant Hardiness Zones 6 to 10. |
| Water | This tree prefers moist soil with proper drainage. Avoid overwatering, which can drown roots and slow flower growth. Deeply water the tree after planting and sometimes throughout the growing season. Crape myrtles are drought-hardy and can survive periods of little to no rain. |
| Soil Quality | The plant grows in most soil types, ranging from sandy loams to rich clays. It can thrive in alkaline and acidic areas as long as the soil is well-drained and moist. |
| Fertilizer | Apply fertilizer to your crape myrtles in the early spring, right before they begin sprouting new growths. I advise choosing a fertilizer with even amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. |
| Light | Crape myrtles grow best in areas with six or more hours of full sun per day. They can live in partially shaded areas but are less prone to disease in sunny locations with proper airflow. |
| Diseases | Common crape myrtle diseases include powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot. Mildew results in dust-like growths on sprouts and seeds, while leaf spot causes foliage damage and death. Adding a 4-inch layer of mulch around newly planted crape myrtles helps prevent insect and mold damage. |
Purchase a Crape Myrtle
You can buy crape myrtle seeds, but I recommend starting with an established tree first. Most home improvement stores and garden centers sell crape myrtles for $60 to $100, according to our research, depending on the plant’s size and variety.
Plant the tree in your garden in the exact spot you’d like it to grow. Crape myrtles are easy to maintain, so you’ll get practice caring for an established tree before you try to grow one from seed.
You can purchase them online or at a garden center if you’d like to buy crape myrtle seeds instead of harvesting them from an existing tree. You can also ask around in your neighborhood — many gardeners will be happy to sell or lend you a few seeds from their crape myrtles.
Final Thoughts on Growing Crape Myrtles
Now that you know how to grow crape myrtles from seeds or cuttings, you can start filling your garden with these stunning summer bloomers. If you don’t want to wait for your seeds to germinate and grow, you can purchase a small tree from your local nursery or garden center. If you have existing trees you’d like to multiply, you can grow more crape myrtles from cuttings or root ball division.
No matter how you grow your crape myrtles, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy watching these bright, versatile blossoms color your garden year after year.
FAQs About Growing Crape Myrtles
You can propogate crape myrtles using several different parts of the plant. The most common method is to use cuttings from new growth. It’s best to take these in late spring or early summer.
To propagate crape myrtles, you can also transplant the root suckers. They are shoots that grow from the roots. Another method is layering, by either bending a branch to the ground and partially burying it or similarly bending a branch to a higher one and wrapping a moist growing medium (like sphagnum moss) around the stem.
Harvesting crape myrtle seeds is a straightforward process. Wait until late fall or early winter when the seed pods have dried on the tree, and then look for small, round, brown seed capsules on the branches. These should be about the size of a pea.
Gently pull or snip off the seed pods from the branches. You can also spread a sheet under the tree and gently shake the branches to collect falling pods. If the pods aren’t fully dry, spread them out in a single layer in a warm, dry place for a few days.
Once dry, the pods will easily crack open. Gently crush the pods to release the seeds. The seeds are very small and light brown, almost dust-like in appearance.
To clean the seeds, separate the seeds from the pod debris. You can use a fine mesh strainer or gently blow away the lighter chaff. Store the seeds in a paper envelope or small jar in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant them.
Crape myrtle seeds don’t always grow plants like their parents. If you want to make sure the plant has certain features, cuttings might be better.
Growing a crape myrtle from seed takes patience — it’s a slower process compared to propagation by cuttings. Germination happens between 10 and 30 days after planting, depending on the conditions. Over the following couple of months, the plant will develop its first true leaves and begin to establish a root system. By the end of the first year, your crape myrtle seedling might be 6 to 12 inches tall.
It typically takes 3 to 5 years for a crape myrtle grown from seed to reach flowering size. Depending on the variety, it can take 5 to 10 years for a crape myrtle to reach its full mature size.
The weather and growing conditions can affect how fast your crape myrtle grows. It also depends on the soil’s quality, and nutrients, how much water you have, and the genetic factors of the specific seed.
It’s important to note that crape myrtles grown from seed may not have the same features as the parent plant. If you’re looking for faster results or specific traits, propagation by cuttings is the best way.
