Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Summer to early autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 7m
Eventual Spread: 5m
Hardiness: 7a – 9b
Family: Lythraceae
Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ is a large deciduous upright, spreading shrub or small tree. Its dark green, glossy leaves are elliptic with entire margins, up tom 10cm long and 3cm broad. Its leaves turn shades of yellow to red before they fall in autumn. Its gray bark is smooth and exfoliates with age. Its lavender/ pink flowers appear as 30cm long terminal clusters. Its brown fruit appear as round seed capsules, are up to 12mm across and persist into the winter. This shrub may sucker.
Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ Leaf (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’, commonly known as Crape Myrtle, is a cross between Lagerstroemia indica and Lagerstroemia fauriei. This cultivar is resistant mildew.
The etymological root of the binomial name Lagerstroemia is named for Magnus von Lagerston of Goteborg (1696 – 1759), a friend of Linnaeus. Muskogee is named after an indigenous American people.
The landscape architect may find Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ useful as a large specimen shrub. Once established this shrub is drought tolerant. This shrub is tolerant of atmospheric pollution.
Ecologically, Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ Bark (18/11/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It prefers a neutral to acid pH of soil, although it will tolerate alkali pH of soil but its leaves may become chlorotic and the autumn leaf color may not be as dramatic.
Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried out in spring before growth begins.