Crape Myrtle Hopi

Writen by Alan Summers

The most winter hardy Crape Myrtle of all.
Crape Myrtles (Lagerstroemia) are known to be the longest blooming deciduous trees in existence, creating extended periods of striking summer color. This, combined with their alluring fall foliage and drought resistance, has made Crape Myrtles a favorite in both formal and informal landscapes throughout the south.

Crape Myrtles are native to Asia and were introduced to England and the U.S. during the 18th century. Since that time, extensive breeding of Crape Myrtles has resulted in a wide assortment of varieties from ground covers only two feet tall, to shrubs of all heights, to trees almost forty feet tall. The dwarf varieties of Crape Myrtles are allowing gardeners with smaller yards to enjoy these beautiful plants. Winter hardiness and summer mildew resistance have also been improved, allowing gardeners farther north to enjoy Crape Myrtles' fabulous summer display. Finally the exfoliating bark has been much improved. This week we are featuring 'Hopi' - in our experience the hardiest of all the Crape Myrtles.

'Hopi,' is one of several Crape Myrtles developed by the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. - all have been given Native American Indian tribe names. 'Hopi' brings color, texture and interest to the garden in several ways. From mid-summer into the fall, 'Hopi' will bloom with beautiful, medium pink flowers that have the crepe-paper look that Crape Myrtles are known for. The blooms will reach six to seven inches long, beginning relatively early in the season and go on for about 100 days. 'Hopi' has mildew-resistant dark green foliage that will turn to a reddish orange in the fall. It also has grayish-brown bark that will exfoliate with age and looks striking in the winter garden.

Planting and Care
'Hopi' is a compact cultivar, reaching just seven to ten feet tall and six feet wide. It can be grown as a small tree or a large shrub. 'Hopi' can be pruned easily to fit into smaller spaces, if needed. Grow several together to form a hedge, just one as a specimen, or in a container on a patio or porch.

Prefers full sun in an area with good air circulation and good soil drainage.

Disease and mildew resistant.

Water regularly until established.

Hardy in Zones 6-9 (protect the first winter in Zone 6).

Fertilize with Plant-Tone and Kelp Meal in early spring.

When necessary, prune in spring just as the new leaves emerge.

To view Crape Myrtle 'Hopi' visit the Carroll Gardens website.

Alan Summers, president of Carroll Gardens, Inc., has over 30 years experience in gardening and landscape design. He has made Carroll Gardens one of America's preeminent nurseries, having introduced more than 20 new perennials and woody shrubs over the years and reintroduced numerous "lost" cultivars back to American gardeners.

Carroll Gardens publishes a weekly online newsletter written by Alan. It contains valuable gardening advice and tips and answers to customer questions. Click here to sign up for the Carroll Gardens weekly enewsletter.

Every Saturday, Alan hosts a call-in gardening forum on WCBM radio - 680 AM. For those outside of the WCBM listening area, they can listen to radio show via the internet.

Visit CarrollGardens.com to learn more.