One of the most popular summer-flowering woody plants is the crape myrtles. They bloom profusely throughout the summer months and have minimal maintenance requirements once established. They tolerate summer’s hot, dry conditions and are seldom troubled by pests. The plants are frequently planted along highways and interstates, adding color to the roadside landscape.

Crape myrtles vary in size from smaller than 3 feet to those that reach 20 or more feet in height. Their flowers range from white to lavender to pink and many other colors. The time they bloom during the summer varies with the cultivar. Some continuously bloom throughout the summer, while others only for a specific period. In the fall, the leaves turn bright red to yellow before dropping. Some have attractive bark that is exfoliating, meaning it peels away, exposing the trunk, which has a gray to brown color.

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Timothy Daly is the Agricultural and Natural Resource agent with UGA Extension Henry. He can be contacted at 770-288-8421 or tdaly@uga.edu.

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