Crepe myrtle flowers nonstop through the hottest part of summer, covering its branches in crinkled, paper-thin petals right when many other flowering trees have long since finished.
A staple of Southern landscapes, crepe myrtle also offers attractive peeling bark and good fall color, making it a small tree that earns its spot in the yard well beyond its long summer bloom season.
Crepe myrtle wants full sun and well-draining soil, and it's highly heat and drought tolerant once established. Prune lightly in late winter to shape rather than heavily "topping" it, a common practice that weakens the tree and produces weaker, floppy re-growth.
Choosing a variety whose mature size matches its planting spot avoids the need for the heavy "crepe murder" pruning that's become a common but harmful practice.
