Crape Myrtle - Red

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Crape Myrtle - Red

The Red Crape Myrtle, 'Lagerstroemia indica "Rubra", is a handsome, summer-flowering, deciduous small tree or shrub. It is a favorite among Southern gardeners because of its beauty and low maintenance. The crape myrtle is valued mainly for its long period of striking summer flowers. Large clusters of red flowers appear on the tips of new branches beginning in early summer and continue into fall. After flowers fade and fall from the tree, fruit remains in the form of small brown capsules. These fruits remain throughout the winter providing winter interest along with the attractive, exfoliating bark which peels away to expose a trunk which ranges in color from many handsome shades of brown to gray. The Red Crape Myrtle is ideally suited for formal or informal design in the home landscape, street plantings and community plantings. It can be planted as a specimen or in groups, and looks attractive when underplanted with a ground cover. Crape myrtle leaves are oval and 1 to 2 inches long; they are bronze-colored when they first unfold in the spring and become yellow, orange or red before falling late in autumn. Crape Myrtle are easy to grow and if they are used for hedges, plant them 4 ot 5 feet apart. ... get more information

 

Water Tupelo The Water Tupelo tree, Nyssa aquatica, is also called the cottongum, sourgum, swamp tupelo, tupelo-gum, and water-gum. Water Tupelo trees are a large, long-lived trees that grow in southern swamps and flood plains where its root system is periodically under water. This deciduous tree has a swollen base that tapers to a long, clear bole and often occurs in pure stands. A good mature tree will produce commercial timber used for furniture and crates. Many kinds of wildlife eat the fruits and it is a favored honey tree. The fragrant flowers entice many visits from spring pollinators. The fall color is yellow to purple.

Crape Myrtle - Red