Purple-mauve Crape Myrtle

A selection of Crape Myrtles in mauve, violet and purple colours. These Lagerstroemia bushes are the kings of summer with their flowering in large frothy clusters ranging from blue to intense mauve (Lilac Grand Sud), to pinkish mauve and violet. Not really purple, not yet blue, the mauve colour of crape myrtle is rich in nuances. Depending on the variety, it can form a small tree capable of reaching 4-5 m (13-16ft) in height and 3.5 m (11ft) in width, similar to the Largerstroemia indica Violacea with its pale and bright mauve colour. For small gardens and cultivation in large pots or containers, the choice is now extensive in each colour; consider 'Summer Beauty Centennial' with its crepe-like flowers in a very bright mauve, for example. The excellent series of Black Solitaire (Black Diamond) offers the pretty 'Purely Purple' for those who love dark foliage. Some pink varieties also have young foliage coloured bronze or purple, like 'Rhapsody in Pink', which showcases the flowers well. Young lagerstroemia must be protected from the cold, while adults can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C (5°F) at the extreme, depending on the cultivars. In this respect, horticulturists have developed varieties that are more or less early and hardy, better suited to cool climates. These shrubs generally have a bushy habit, growing in clumps, but they can easily be shaped by pruning to form a small tree on a single trunk. In addition to its sumptuous summer flowering, Crape Myrtle offers beautiful autumn foliage and decorative bark.