Crepe Myrtles

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Today, a beautiful 10-foot Tuscarora crepe myrtle was planted in the southwest corner of the backyard of The Bungalow. Adding this tree to the landscape was long-awaited and much-anticipated.

The tree was purchased at Tom’s Thumb Nursery, and its crew handled the installation. As expected, all went well, and the job was done right. The correct size hole was dug. Nutrients were added to the soil. The tree was planted in the ground securely and straight up. Then, it was given the right amount of water. Afterwards, mulch was added to the area.

The crew of four made the job look easy, but it was a crew of four. Folks who think planting a large tree is a do-it-yourself project need to rethink that (unless they have lots of extra hands around to help).

Crepe or Crape Myrtles?
The crepe myrtle, commonly called the “lilac of the South,” is one of the area’s most beloved and iconic trees. It is prized for its long blooming season - in the heat and height of the summer. The way a person spells the name of this tree is interesting; it offers a clue to one’s geographic origins.

I grew up in Louisiana, enjoying the beauty of lots of crepe (with two Es) myrtles, the most commonly accepted “southern” spelling. North of some unspecified crepe-myrtle border line, it become crape myrtle.

But, despite the difference in spelling, these trees offer hundreds of blooms, colorful leaf color in fall and exfoliating bark in a variety of colors (from brown to gray to pink) in winter. To me, crepe myrtles are four-season wonders!

This is the color of the Tuscarora blossoms I’ll be watching for next summer. Can’t wait to see them!

This is the color of the Tuscarora blossoms I’ll be watching for next summer. Can’t wait to see them!

Tuscarora
I chose a Tuscarora Crepe Myrtle for the back yard of The Bungalow - for a number of good reasons.

First its color. This variety will produce hundreds of vibrant, coral-pink flowers next summer. Secondly, it can grow just about anywhere - perfect for barren areas or trouble spots. Thirdly, Tuscaroras don’t need much planting space. They are great for planting in small areas or next to structures (like my cedar fence).

The Tuscarora is also cold hardy. It can withstand temps as low as zero degrees. So, no need to worry about having to top it off during Galveston winters.

And, last but not least, Tuscaroras are highly resistant to disease, powdery mildew and leaf spot. So, fungicide treatments will not be needed. I now have a spectacular tree without the problems.