For vibrant summer color, few flowering plants can compete with the crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). Just look around your neighborhood. Nearly every street in the South is lined with these ...

Dear Neil: I planted white crape myrtles on the west and east sides of my patio 10 years ago. As I sit there, I see a fine mist dropping to the ground. The grass refuses to grow beneath the trees even ...

Crepe myrtles are iconic Southern trees. These gorgeous plants don’t mind the heat and humidity, and their lovely, papery blooms last for weeks and weeks throughout the summer. “People love crepe ...

Q: Why are the trunks of my crape myrtles turning black? They look rather unsightly. Mine aren't the only ones doing this -- many in our neighborhood look the same. Is it a disease? Is it going to ...

Dear Neil: How can I find someone qualified to tell me if a very large tree needs to be taken down? I’ve gotten conflicting comments. You need a Certified Arborist. He or she will be a member of the ...

This fast-growing (up to 5 feet per year) woody plant flowers all summer long, making crape myrtle a popular garden favorite. “Specimen trees can be great for shade in the summer,” says Tracy Harrison ...

Question: Several crape myrtles in our yard are shedding lots of bark. Is this normal? Answer: Not only are crape myrtles with shedding bark normal — but beautiful. Often under the outer layer of old ...

A: A crape myrtle shedding bark is completely normal. Also referred to as ‘exfoliating bark’, this process simply reveals newer inner bark, often cinnamon red in color. This process can be more ...

Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia sp) are among the toughest and showiest plants for Texas landscapes. Introduced from China, crape myrtles have been grown in the U.S. since the American Revolution and ...