The crape myrtle is a deciduous flowering tree in the family Lythraceae, known as the “lilac of the south” despite its lack of fragrance. A common landscaping tree in warm climates due to its vibrant blooms, the common crape myrtle natively grows in Japan, the Philippines, China, and India, but it can be found all over the world. Its maximum height varies between cultivars, but all common crape myrtles share the crepe-paper quality of their flowers (which come in shades of white, pink, purple, and red), their multitrunk formation, and thin bark. Crape myrtles provide excellent mid-summer food sources for pollinators, such as honey bees, and are a shelter for a variety of small bird species.

FAMILY: Lythraceae
NATIVE STATUS: Non-Native
NATIVE RANGE: Southeastern Asia
FOLIAGE: Deciduous
MAX. HEIGHT: 40 ft.
MAX. AGE: 100 yrs.

Stop #8 on the Congressional Tree Walk

6 - Kwanzan Cherry
8 - Chinese Elm

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