Lagerstroemia indica Saint Emilion - Crape Myrtle

The Lagerstroemia indica ‘Saint Emilion’ is a late-blooming Indian Lilac with deep carmine red flowers, from August to mid or late September. This variety forms a robust bush with an upright habit, which can become a small tree if patiently and meticulously pruned. Its deciduous, glossy green foliage turns warm shades in the autumn. This plant craves sun and heat. Endowed with multiple assets, Indian lilacs are among the most beautiful flowering bushes in summer. As such, they deserve a prime spot in the garden or on the terrace.

The Lagerstroemia indica ‘Saint Emilion’ belongs to the Lythraceae family. The Lagerstroemia indica, from which it is derived, is native to China. This robust bush with an upright habit reaches 3 to 5 m (9 ft 10 in to 16 ft 5 in) in height at ripeness, with a diameter of about 3 m (9 ft 10 in). Its growth is quite rapid. Its flowering usually starts in August and continues until early September. The flowers are characterised by thin pedicels each bearing five undulate-edged petals. The flowers, whose texture recalls that of crepe, are gathered in abundant and large, dense panicles at the ends of the year's branches. In ‘Saint Emilion’, the flowering is intense carmine red. The foliage, tough and deciduous, is born red and becomes a glossy dark green. It consists of small ovate leaves, which turn lovely orange and purple shades in the autumn, depending on the climate. Lastly, and to finish beautifully, its bark is a sight to behold, smooth and beige, striate with brown-red, peeling in coloured patches (cinnamon, faded red, old pink, cream).

Indian Lilacs are the pride of Southwestern gardens. The 'Saint Emilion' prefers humid and warm climates, but it does deserve to be acclimatised in colder areas, providing the location is carefully chosen. Its hardiness and vigour allow it. It is when isolated, and near the house, that you can fully enjoy this plant's generosity. It will look good in a bush massif, a flowering hedge, or emerging from a mound of perennials. Compose a massif like a bouquet, with Campanula pyramidalis, Salvia sclarea, Aster laevis. In autumn, it accompanies the equally as colourful Aster. In a large pot on the terrace, it puts on a show as summer flowerings wane.

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