FLOWER SEEDS

Info on the Crape Myrtle trees

NOTICE

WHITE AND DARK PINK.

BUT THEY SAY CRAPE MYRTLES ARE COMMONLY PINK!

Zone 7-10

If you like trees with lots of color and character, check out the Crape Myrtle. They say if you’re growing from a great hybrid, your seedlings are going to be highly variable. The genetic lineage of those Crape Myrtles is enormous. This just means your tree may not come out with the same charactertics or color as the parent tree. I don’t know if mine are hybrids because I got them about 20 years ago so I no longer remember. I’ll let you know which tree your seed comes from so you’ll have an idea of what you may get! But if you want a guarantee of color I can’t give that. When I do get more trees I’ll make sure they are not hybrid!

I'm sending you pods because I think they'll be safer that way. Each pods normally hold appox 15-25 seeds. But as they are being stored and packaged some have fallen out. So to correct this I've given you extra pods, thats why you'll see more seeds and pods in your little package. Also if I think they are a little small I'll put in more. The seeds look like flatlish papery half circles with a dark dot at one end. That dark spot is the seed. To pick them up I use tweezers on the papery end. Or just barely dampen the tip of your finger to pick them up. If some of the seeds have broken as long as they have that dark dot they are still good. So be very careful with your seeds. Especially when opening the pod! Open over the soil where planting or over paper because if you're not careful they can POP everywhere!

I also have just the seeds available, not in the pods anymore, already to go but since I tried very hard to keep them in the pods I don't have a lot of these packaged. So if you want any of these you'll have to be quick! Also I don't know the color of the tree these came from.

THE ONLY TREES I HAVE RIGHT NOW ARE Crape Myrtle. But it may be just be the tree you’re looking for to add to your landscape this fall. It is also an excellent flowering tree for bonsai. Natural height is quite variable, may be pruned to stay small or permitted to grow up to 25ft or more. Called Crape Myrtle because the flowers resemble crepe paper in texture. Why the spelling is Crape instead of “Crepe” is a mystery. Crape Myrtle is one of the most useful flowering shrubs/trees grown in Georgia.

It provides abundant summer color with very little maintenance. Because of this, Crape Myrtle should be used more often in the home landscape and as street trees in community developments. Crape Myrtle is ideally suited for community plantings since it is long lived, with stands droughts after becoming established, and is relatively free of disease and insect difficulties. Colors range from red and pink to lavender and white to pinks and purple.

Plants height ranges from less than 3 ft to more than 20 ft, making it one of the most versatile plants. Old specimens can reach 40 ft at maturity. Grows at a moderate to fast rate and moderate to long life span.

The tree gets its name from the appearance of the flower petals that are crinkled resembling crape paper. Large 6 inch bloom clusters grace the ends of nearly all branches, normally. Although mine have gotten much longer. Colors are vibrant, nearly electric, in all colors. Crape Myrtle is valued mainly for its long period of striking summer flowers. These showy flowers bloom time varies. Blooming beginning in early summer and continue into fall. After flowers fade and fall from the tree, fruit remains in the form of small green pods then turning into brown capsules (or pods). These fruit remain through out the winter.

Landscape Crape Myrtle adapts well to confined spaces, and is therefore , well suited for small areas close to sidewalks or parking pots, and can provide shade in deck and patio areas. The flowers of some selections, however may stain car paint, and the honeydew drops from aphids on the plant may stick on cars or patio furniture. I don't don't which types these are. But the two kinds I sell I havn't had any problems with..

The ideal planting site is in a well prepared, well drained soil, with full sun exposure and good air circulation. Crape Myrtle planted in partial or full shade will have reduced flowering and increased disease susceptibility. For strong growth and abundant flowering, plant Crape Myrtle in full sun. Heavy shade will reduce growth and flowering and will increase disease problems. Large shade trees will complete with Crape Myrtle for moisture, causing poor growth and flowering. Lack of sunlight and moisture are common causes of poor growth and flowering.

Crape Myrtle flowers on new growth of the season, so you can prune plants any time during the late winter or early spring before growth begins without loss of flower buds. Avoid pruning in early fall before the first frost, because pruning forces new growth and keeps the plant from going dormant. Severe freezes can kill the plant if it is not fully dormant. I prune mine late winter and not too much. About an arms length of the branch is about all I'll cut off, but I cut all the criss-cross branches out so the bigger branches will stand out in the winter, so I'll have more blooms in the spring.

Pruning to remove spent flower blossoms after they fade will stimulate new growth and another blossom flush in late summer. A second bloom is sometimes difficult to force on cultivars that bloom after mid-July. The type and amount of pruning that should be done each year depends entirely on desired shape and size. On large old crape Myryles, heavy pruning may not be advisable , since the tree form is the desirable feature. Crape Myrtles in tree form make wonderful accent plants or specimen trees. Many cultivars develop attractive trunks with exfoliating bark that add interest to the winter garden. I love mine in the winter as the bark starts to peel off it leaves a striking tree trunk!

You will get more detailed info on caring for your Crape Myrtle after you purchase the seeds.

Happy Gardening

"The Fairies"