anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

I've been reading about some Crape Myrtle hybrids that are hardy down to zone 6. Has anyone tried these in zone 6. Are they olny root hardy or will I get some trunk.

thanks for looking-DAN

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

Dan,

I grew up in W. KY (much different from your Utah climate) an we used to have crepe myrtles there. They were definitely root hardy and I've even seen some that were 12-15feet tall before some moron whached them down. Also, when I lived in St. Louis (Zone 5), we could grow them there in protected areas, thought they did usually die back to the ground. Give them a shot. The limited humidity and cold in your area may be your main obstacle, though. What is your average coldest temperature and for how long is that sustained?

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

hey i live zone 6-7 and i have 2 crape mertals growing, a pink and a white.

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

Some of the older varieties are hardy to 0 F on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevadas (California / Nevada border). They've been there at least 70 years. Crape Myrtles love summer heat and hate any condition where fungus might develop in the roots or leafs.

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

Thanks for the info. I just learned about this plant last night and I'm impressed how they bloom all summer.

I found a good price for them at crapemyrtle.com and plan on ordering some.

thanks again-DAN

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

Crape myrtle "hopi" is "supposed" to be the hardiest for zone 6.It can be grown into New England. Deep pink.

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

The line dividing USDA zones 6 & 7 goes right through the middle of Staten Island, where I'm located. There are lots of Crapes here. I know of one, that, when I first glanced it, I thought it had a 2 to 3 foot diameter trunk. However, when I looked again, I saw it was numerous (50 or more) 2 to 3 inch trunks. The thing must have a spread of 40 feet. Magnificent!

I have several with 15 to 20 feet of trunk and, also, several, in sizes up to 6 feet, that have overwintered for several years, in containers, without protection.

Here are some of mine.

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

john ny- Those look great. How long do they bloom for you?

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

I haven't really paid that much attention to that. I know it's several weeks. Probably something like the latter part of July to early September. I'll watch more closely, this year.

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

I'm growing Crape Myrtle 'Townhouse' in Upstate NY. It died back to the ground after last winter. New growth is coming back from the base.

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

My dad is growing crepe myrtle in northern Kansas. Every winter he wraps wire around it and fills it with leaves. It's doing fine.

Re: anyone growing Crape Myrtle in zone 6?
 

i dont do anything special to mine. i tag limbs that are dead in the summer and in the winter/fall i wack them back.