August 11, 2017
Question: Dr. Dirt, I want to grow Crape Myrtles in my yard and I live in Chicago, Illinois. Can you give me some pointers and recommendations? Erin, my sister who works at the Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame, referred me to you.
Christie
Chicago, IL
Answer: Christie, thank you for asking for some gardening help on growing Crape Myrtles in the Chicago area.
Crape Myrtles are usually thought of as "Southern" (south of the Mason Dixon line to the Gulf Coast areas) to grow as beautiful flowering shrubs to tree-form types. Your request is unique, but I have seen Crape myrtles growing in downtown Chicago landscaped beds, raised planters and street medians while attending gardening conferences in your city.
The USDA plant hardiness for Chicago proper and coming off Lake Superior is zone 6a. Areas west and south of Chicago-land are zoned 5b, zones that have colder temperatures that will kill most varieties of Crape Myrtles. Your growing zone 6a will allow Crape myrtle varieties (i.e., Lagerstroemia fauriei) to be grown in your landscape. The Fauriei cultivars are somewhat winter-hardy in zone 6.
Growing Tips: The cold-hardy Crape Myrtles still require some gardening measures you must do to help them survive in your zone 6a.
➢ Treat the Crape Myrtles as a perennial plant. Dying to the ground and re-sprouting in the spring.
➢ Plant them in micro-climates in your landscape. (Near your home, warmest, most protected spot in your yard. Then they may not totally die-back from the winter freezes.)
➢ Plant them in full-sun and a hot location as they love the sun and heat.
➢ Plant the Crape Myrtles in spring to early summer, getting their roots to establish in your soil fast. DO NOT plant them in the fall, a sure death.
➢ Perennial technique, after hard-killing freezes cut stems/trunk to 2 to 3 inches above the ground. Cover the Crape with landscape fabric, then collect leaves and cover over the core plant with a foot or more of leaf matter and at least 3 to 4 feet out from the plant. Leaves act as an insulation cover lessening freeze-damage to the plant and roots. Remove organic matter and fabric as spring arrives in your area. They will re-appear late, as the soil must warm them up and activate their growth from winter's slumber.
➢ Fertilize early in the spring season, irrigate them if in a dry period.
Cultivar Notes: The US National Arboretum has been hybridizing Crape Myrtles for several years for cold weather tolerance. They have developed 25 cold-hardy cultivars for northern climates and zones. Check your plant tags for the botanical name noted for the cold hardiness factor. A plant nursery that sells these cold-hardy types is called The Crape Myrtle Company (http://www.crapemyrtle.com/). Check them out online.
➢ Plant them in micro-climates in your landscape. (Near your home, warmest, most protected spot in your yard. Then they may not totally die-back from the winter freezes.)
➢ Plant them in full-sun and a hot location as they love the sun and heat.
➢ Plant the Crape Myrtles in spring to early summer, getting their roots to establish in your soil fast. DO NOT plant them in the fall, a sure death.
➢ Perennial technique, after hard-killing freezes cut stems/trunk to 2 to 3 inches above the ground. Cover the Crape with landscape fabric, then collect leaves and cover over the core plant with a foot or more of leaf matter and at least 3 to 4 feet out from the plant. Leaves act as an insulation cover lessening freeze-damage to the plant and roots. Remove organic matter and fabric as spring arrives in your area. They will re-appear late, as the soil must warm them up and activate their growth from winter's slumber.
➢ Fertilize early in the spring season, irrigate them if in a dry period.
Cultivar Notes: The US National Arboretum has been hybridizing Crape Myrtles for several years for cold weather tolerance. They have developed 25 cold-hardy cultivars for northern climates and zones. Check your plant tags for the botanical name noted for the cold hardiness factor. A plant nursery that sells these cold-hardy types is called The Crape Myrtle Company (http://www.crapemyrtle.com/). Check them out online.
A few Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia fauriei) cultivars to consider and look for are:
Pocomoke - A dwarf, rosy pink
Tonto - is a water melon red
Hopi -a light pink
Sioux -bright pink
Cherokee -a deep red
Okmulgee -dark red
Pocomoke - A dwarf, rosy pink
Tonto - is a water melon red
Hopi -a light pink
Sioux -bright pink
Cherokee -a deep red
Okmulgee -dark red
Christie, I hope this gardening information helps you out on your quest for enjoying Crape Myrtles and growing them successively in the Chicago area. THANK YOU, for a truly unique garden question.
Dr. Dirt
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