Lagerstroemia indica Terre Chinoise - Crape Myrtle

The Lagerstroemia indica 'Chinese Earth' is a late flowering Indian Lilac with a purple burgundy colour, from August to September. This variety forms a vigorous bush with a slender habit, which can become a small tree if patiently and meticulously pruned. Its deciduous, shiny green foliage turns into warm colours in autumn. This variety loves and thrives best in sun and warmth. With multiple advantages, Indian Lilacs are among the most beautiful summer-flowering bushes. As such, they deserve a prominent place in the garden or on the terrace.

The Lagerstroemia indica 'Chinese Earth' belongs to the Lythraceae family. The Lagerstroemia indica, from which it originates, is native to China. The cultivar 'Chinese Earth' was selected in 1983 at the Demartis nursery in Dordogne. This vigorous bush with an upright habit reaches a height of 3 to 5 m (9 ft 10 in to 16 ft 5 in) at maturity, with a diameter of about 3 m (9 ft 10 in). Its growth is quite fast. Its flowering usually starts in mid-August and extends until September. The flowers are characterised by thin pedicels, each bearing five undulate-edged petals that make up this flower. The crepe-like flowers gather in large, dense panicles at the end of the branches of the current year. In 'Chinese Earth', the red-purple flower buds open into dark violet flowers. The coriaceous and deciduous foliage emerges red and becomes shiny dark green. It consists of small ovate leaves that take on lovely orange and purple hues in autumn, depending on the climate. Lastly, its bark is truly stunning, smooth, beige streaked with brown-red, peeling off in coloured patches (cinnamon, faded red, old rose, cream).

Indian Lilacs are hardy and vigorous, and the pride of many gardens. It is when isolated, near the house, that you can fully enjoy the full abundance of this variety. It will look good in a shrub bed, a flowering hedge, or emerging from a mound of perennials. Create a mixed display with Campanula pyramidalis, Salvia sclarea, Aster laevis. In autumn, it is accompanied by asters as colourful as itself. In a large pot on the terrace, it puts on a show while summer blooms fade.

Note: Karl Von Linne named this tree to pay tribute to 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 with a narcotic effect if ingested.