Shrub · North Texas care guide
Lagerstroemia 'Pocomoke' & others
Nursery Pro tip: All the summer bloom of a crape myrtle in a shrub-sized package.
All the summer bloom of a crape myrtle on a 2–4 ft plant — the 'Pocomoke', 'Petite' and Bellini-type selections. They flower from June to frost in pink, red, purple and white, go dormant in winter, and fit where a full-size crape myrtle never could.
Full sun, six hours minimum — shade means mildew and no flowers. Any drained soil. Space 3 ft apart, or use them in large pots on a patio.
Spring through early fall. Hole twice the pot width, ball at grade, native soil, Root Stimulator, mulch.
Weekly the first summer; then every week or two. Pots need far more.
Light feeding in spring and a bloom fertilizer in June. Skip heavy nitrogen.
Cut back by about a third in late February. Deadhead the spent flower clusters through summer and they rebloom in two or three weeks.
Powdery mildew in shade or crowded beds. Aphids and sooty mold. Crape myrtle bark scale — white felt on the stems; treat with a systemic in spring. They leaf out very late (May), so don't dig one up thinking it died.
Front of a sunny bed with lantana, autumn sage and Gulf muhly; a row makes a low summer-color hedge along a walk.
Written for Rockwall's black clay, heat and winters by the Landscape Source team. Every yard is different — bring a photo by, or ask LS-Ai, and we'll tailor it to your spot.