Lagerstroemia indica

crepemyrtle
Lagerstroemia indica L.
(Lythraceae)

    Lagerstroemia indica is a large shrub or small tree that is native to China. It is naturalized in Arkansas and in several other states in the eastern US from Texas to Florida, and north to Virginia and Illinois. Lagerstroemia can produce large numbers of small, winged seeds, which can be dispersed long distances from parent plants. Numerous varieties, forms, and cultivars based on plant size, flower color, and disease resistance exist for this species. Plants can range in size from dwarf plants only one or two meters tall to trees that are several meters in height. Flower color is also extremely variable, occurring in reds, purples, lavender, various shades of pink, and white. The pattern of the smooth, exfoliating bark of L. indica is unique among Arkansas non-native woody species. 
    Lagerstroemia does resemble some of the privets (Ligustrum spp.), but can easily be distinguished by the presence of at least some alternate leaves and multicolored bark (Arkansas species of Ligustrum have opposite leaves).

 

Figures for Lagerstroemia indica:
A-D. leaves;
E-K. flowers showing some of the variation in color that occurs;
L-N. fruits;
O-P. bark;
Q. seedling;
R-S. spontaneous plants;
T. plant.

List of Naturalized Species
List of Spontaneous Species
List of Species with the Potential to Become Spontaneous or Naturalized
Dendrology Course
Terminology
Acknowledgements