Lagerstroemia macrocarpa- tropical Crepe Myrtle with giant flowers and leaves

[Eric in Orlando]

Lagerstroemia macrocarpa is currently flowering. This is a tropical species of Crepe Myrtle with huge flowers and giant leaves that can be over a foot in length. The flowers are a purplish pink when they first open then fade to a pale pink almost white after a couple days.

Lagerstroemia macrocarpa is usually lumped into L. speciosa, Queen Crepe Myrtle. But it has much larger leaves and flowers.

[Eric in Orlando]

a few more pics...

[BigBpalms]

Beautiful Eric - any chance u r going to do some cuttings?

[fastfeat]

I planted one of these at Miami Springs dog park a few years back. Tends to grow more vigorously, upright than L. speciosa. I don't know its cold tolerance relative to L. speciosa though. Easy from cuttings or seed.

[Eric in Orlando]

Good to know about the cuttings. I will try some when the flowering is done.

Hardiness seems to be the same as L. speciosa but its a faster grower. This tree was about 6ft tall and froze down in the 2009-10 winter. It is in a n open area and I think the prolonged winter is what knocked it back. It came back stunted and was slow but took off last year and is now about 10ft tall.

[Peter]

Very nice!

[Eric in Orlando]

Thanks! the heavy rains and storms the last few days really knocked a lot of the flowers off.

[Horton Tran]

Just wonder if I could ask for seeds if they are available?

Thanks 😃