Natchez White Crepe Myrtle
The beauty of the Natchez White Crepe Myrtle
The Natchez White Crepe Myrtle is a beautiful flowering tree that exhibits lovely white blooms for you to enjoy from June through to September. A truly spectacular tree with striking clusters of flowers, many other attractive features are worth mentioning. The glossy, dark green foliage, which is a dramatic contrast to the delicate white blooms of summer, changes to a reddish-orange shade in the fall. When the delicate clusters of flowers have said their farewells to summer, they also change, yielding to an earthy, brown-toned fruit. Even the bark is showy, and it peels off in layers very similar to the layers of birch trees.
Originally from Asia, this extraordinary tree is now naturalized in the southeastern part of the United States. However, more than any other type of crepe myrtle, this one is also highly resistant to powdery mildew and aphids. That is good news for professional gardeners, but also those just starting. That is because it is complicated to successfully treat most diseases caused by powdery mildew.
Another positive selling point of this tree is that it is naturally resistant to breakage
As a result, it requires very little pruning to encourage the growth of a sturdy structure. If pruning is done, it is best to do it in late winter or early spring before new summer growth appears. It is much easier to see the natural shape of the tree then and which branches need removing.
Even though this particular myrtle prefers rich, moist soil, it is very adaptable, and it accepts clay and alkaline soils very well. It looks impressive in a large area, but it can grow in limited soil spaces. That makes it an excellent choice for adding drama and beauty to urban areas, parking lots, and other small pavement cutouts.
In short, if you want a tree that is showy all summer long, hardy against diseases and aphids, resistant to breakage, easy to tend, and drought-tolerant, then this plant is an excellent choice.