Crape Myrtle Recommendations
 

I have been informed by the better half that we need a crape myrtle in our courtyard. The tree/bush should be fairly compact and I wonder if anyone has experience with growing one in their courtyard and what they would recommend.

They are a beautiful tree but ...
 

I would not recommend the "Crape Murder" method of pruning!

I love them but hate the way they are cut back ecery year. Not much choice with them small yards of the courtyard villas. If you do not prune them back they will get as big as trees.

Crepe myrtles are available in a wide range of sizes. The attached gives an idea of the various named varieties and their mature height/width. Search "crepe myrtle varieties" or similar for info from other sites.

HGIC 1023 Crape Myrtle Varieties : Extension : Clemson University : South Carolina

Thanks, this should help in deciding what will work in our courtyard.

We have a rather small backyard altho not a courtyard & we have 3 crepe myrtle bushes. I am told they will only get about 6 to 8 ft tall. We are in our 3rd yr with them and I do like the reasonable size.

Definitely recommend a crepe myrtle BUSH.

Crepe Myrtles are so nice. They sort of remind me of lilacs back north. I bought two, (15 footers or so) and trim them every year in Feb, but not Crepe Murder!!! hehehe Absolutely will not plant Palm trees.

If you o a search on "crepe murder" there was a previous thread with lots of info.

Your better half may already know that Crepe Myrtles shed- spent blossoms, then leaves when they go dormant (bare) in winter. That might be something to consider..... I inherited a very big variety that was planted near my driveway when we bought the house.
It was more mess than I wanted to deal with in that spot. I had to yank it.
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Yesterday I saw some Southern Living Collection- dwarf crepe myrtles at Lowes.
Burgundy colored leaves, light pink blossoms.
I believe the tag said 8 to 10 ft. tall- should require minimal pruning, if any.

They looked lovely and were healthy specimens, about 2-3 ft. tall.
Manageable for DYI.

Thanks, we'll take a trip to Lowes to check them out.

Walmart sells Crepe Myrtle bushes for about $10. For trees, I like the Purple Zuni or White Natchez.

We just bought a Red Rooster crape myrtle at Village Palms that will only grow to 8-10 feet. Dark, red blooms that we wanted without the problem of it getting too tall for us to properly trim in the winter.

We have a crepe myrtle in our courtyard which came with the villa. It is three years old and is 12 feet tall and growing. Too big for the yard and very messy. We have rocks in our backyard and the tree drops flowers, leaves and berries into the rocks. We are going to remove the tree.

Maybe this article and chart of varieties wil help...
ENH-52/MG266: Crapemyrtle in Florida