Originally from East Asia, crape myrtles have become much more widely planted in recent decades thanks to the development of varieties that are hardier and more disease-resistant.

A few varieties that are in that size category include Byers White, Catawba (purple), Choctaw (pink), Comanche (coral), Osage (pink) and Potomac (pink). Sioux, medium pink, is one of the best.

Urban Forestry Extension Agent Larry Figart has advice for selecting and caring for crape myrtles, which show off their blooms all summer long.

Once established, crape myrtles thrive in hot, sunny spots. They can be trained into multi-trunked shrubs or into single trunked trees. When choosing a crape myrtle to purchase, take into account ...

Medium crape myrtles (up to about 15 feet tall) are perfect as patio trees. Good cultivars of medium crapemyrtles include Hopi (pink flowers), Acoma (white) and Catawba (purple).

It's also critical that you decide what size crape myrtle would be most appropriate in your situation, and then purchase a cultivar that matures at about that size.

Purple crape myrtles blend with all other crape myrtle colors — red, pink, white, and lavender. Where others may clash, purples play well. But Catawba isn’t just any old purple crape myrtle.

I was thinking about planting crape myrtles that would grow to be about 15 feet in height and 8 feet in width. Please suggest a type of crape myrtle that would not get to be too large.

The late summer pick-me-up that gardeners crave is at hand. Just call on crape myrtle. Not a sexy name, but definitely a don't-miss-me kind of plant, with its panicles of red, pink purple or white ...

Purple crape myrtles blend with all other crape myrtle colors — red, pink, white, and lavender. Where others may clash, purples play well. But Catawba isn’t just any old purple crape myrtle.

When it comes to crape myrtle bark, whether it is the lighter sage tones of the indica or cinnamon color of the fauriei, for elegance of shedding and suppleness of underwood, the crape myrtle can ...

A few varieties that are in that size category include Byers White, Catawba (purple), Choctaw (pink), Comanche (coral), Osage (pink) and Potomac (pink). Sioux, medium pink, is one of the best.