Muskogee Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Muskogee’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree, Fauriei Hybrid

Height at Maturity: 20-30′

Width at Maturity: 15-20′
Spacing: 15′ apart for screen or hedge, 25’+ for space in between

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Broad Canopy, Rounded Canopy, Arching

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: Lavender

Flowering Period: Mid-Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall

Flower Type: Single flowers in large rounded to elongated clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fall Foliage Color: Red, Orange, Yellow

Fragrant Foliage: No

Bark Color: Cinnamon, Light Gray

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Moderate Drought, Heat

Description

When it comes to flowering trees, there’s simply no others more showy than Crape Myrtles. They bloom for up to 100 days during summer, when there are few other trees and shrubs providing that service in the landscape. Colorful fall foliage and attractive exfoliating bark in winter enhance their overall appeal. It’s no wonder they are so wildly popular among designers and gardeners!

Muskogee Crape Myrtle is year round color factory producing large clusters of light lavender flowers for up to 120 days during summer that are up to 16 inches long! The dark green glossy leaves provide a nice backdrop for the flowers and turn to colorful shades of red, orange, and yellow during the fall. Exfoliating bark adds even more interest. Totally mildew resistant Fauriei hybrid.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing to 20-30 feet tall depending on pruning, and 15-20 feet or so wide, Muskogee Crape Myrtle is an ideal selection for smaller garden spaces, and containers. It can be grown as a shrub or lower branches can be removed to form a very attractive small tree, making it an excellent choice for use as a specimen or accent in sunny home foundation plantings or landscape borders. Also makes a very colorful hedge and is spectacular in groupings. Whether planted as a specimen or in groupings, this is one plant that is sure to stand out in the landscape!

Spacing: 15′ for solid hedge; 25′ for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b, where this Crape Myrtle is not winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Muskogee Crape Myrtle is very easy to grow. It is not picky about soil type provided the soil is well-drained. A moist but well-drained soil of average fertility is preferred. Full sun is preferred and results in heavier flower production. Light shade is tolerated but flowering will be diminished in more shade. Has shown excellent resistance to powdery mildew and is quite drought tolerant when established.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Crape Myrtle trees.

How To Plant A Crape Myrtle In The Ground Or In A Pot

How To Prune a Crape Myrtle Tree the Right Way

How To Fertilize & Water A Crape Myrtle

How To Prune a Dwarf Crape Myrtle

Choosing the Right Crape Myrtle

Plant Long & Prosper!

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