Lagerstroemia indica Pink Velours - Crape Myrtle

Invite Lagerstroemia indica Pink Velours ('Whit III') into your garden! This variety of summer lilac or Lagerstroemia indica is rightly considered one of the most colourful, not only because of its extended summer flowering with an extremely vibrant magenta pink colour, but also because of the colouration of its foliage, which changes from spring burgundy to green-purple in summer before taking on magnificent autumn colours. In addition to its ornamental qualities, this deciduous shrub also has good resistance to powdery mildew and cold. With a moderate growth habit, this selection will suit all gardens, including smaller

Lagerstroemia indica Pink Velours ('Whit III') belongs to the Lythraceae family. Its ancestor is not originally from India, as its name suggests, but from China and Japan. This American variety has been awarded a Gold Medal by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in the United States. The mature shrub reaches a height of 2 m to 3.5 m (3.3 ft to 11.5 ft) and has a similar width. Its habit is naturally dense and bushy, but it can easily be trained into a small tree with a spreading crown by removing the branches that develop at the base of the trunk.

In spring, this shrub develops young burgundy-coloured leaves. As they grow, these cordate and ovate leaves, 8 cm (3.1 in) long, evolve to varying shades of green with hints of purple, and then turn different shades of orange, brown, and purple in autumn before falling late. The exceptionally long flowering period lasts from July-August until October, even in less sunny climates. The shrub then transforms into a sublime and intense bouquet composed of pyramidal inflorescences called thyrses, made up of small flowers as delicate as crêpe paper. Finally, in winter, it reveals a smooth bark marbled with mouse grey, cinnamon, and light pink, peeling off in flakes.

This shrub will be a charming addition in your garden, whether planted individually or as a flowering hedge, rewarding you with a changing spectacle that is interesting for much of the year. It will look good in a low shrub border or in a small flowering hedge mixed with different varieties and colours, or emerging from a mass of perennials. We have imagined a simple tricoloured plant tapestry as a ground cover to highlight Lagerstroemia indica Pink Velours ('Whit VIII'). A weaving of burnets, Macedonian knautias, oreganos, and thymes will dress the base of its trunk, accentuate its bark, and reflect its magnificent flowering. In autumn, it accompanies cotinus and deciduous euonymus, which are just as colourful. In a large pot on a terrace, it creates a spectacle while summer blooms fade away.

NB: Karl Von Linne named this tree to honour his friend Magnus Von Lagestroem (1696 - 1759), who had sent it to him from India for identification. Originally, this shrub was used to decorate Chinese temples. We would like to point out that this shrub produces fruits that have a narcotic effect if ingested.