Crapemyrtle Varieties You Should Be Growing

Crape myrtles come in a variety of size sand flower colors. Many (not all) show off an ornamental patchwork bark. Before heading to the garden center decide what flower color you want. Shop the internet or find a variety that grows (matures) to the correct height for the garden space and is winter hardy in your plant zone. Plant crape myrtles almost any time of year with spring / summer being best and fall / winter the worse seasons. 

There are over 125 varieties listed on the internet. Here is 50+ of the best:

Lagerstroemia 'Burgundy Cotton'

Miniature/Weeping: less than 3
feet tall

• Baton Rouge (red)
• Mardi Gras (purple)
• Pixie White (white)
• Pokomoke (deep pink)

Dwarf: 3 – 5 feet tall

• Centennial (purple)
• Dazzle® series (GAMAD I-VII)
• Petite Series (6) Pink Ruffles (pink)
• Tightwad (Whit V) (red)
• Velma’s Royal Delight (purple)
• Victor (dark red)

Intermediate: 5 – 10 feet tall

• Acoma (white)
• Cheyenne (red)
• Hopi (pink)
• Red Rooster (PIILAG III) (rich red)
• Siren Red (Whit VII) (red)
• Tonto (red)
• Zuni (purple)

Medium: 10 – 20 feet tall

• Apalachee (lavender)
• Black Diamond series (9)
• Burgundy Cotton (Whit VI) (white)
• Catawba (purple)
• Centennial Spirit (red)
• Comanche (pink)
• Dynamite (Whit II) (true red)
• Lipan (lavender)
• Osage (pink)
• Pink Velour (Whit III) (pink)
• Powhatan (purple)
• Raspberry Sundae (Whit I) (red/white)
• Regal Red (red)
• Seminole (pink)
• Sioux (pink)
• Tuskegee (pink)
• Yuma (lavender)

Tall: more than 20 feet tall

• Arapaho (red)
• Biloxi (pink)
• Byers Hardy Lavender (lavender)
• Byers Standard Red (red)
• Kiowa (white)
• Miami (pink)
• Muskogee (lavender)
• Natchez (white)
• Potomac (pink)
• Red Rocket (Whit IV) (true red)
• Sarah’s Favorite (white)
• Townhouse (white)
• Tuscarora (pink)
• Watermelon Red (red)
• Wichita (lavender)

Seedless (Sterile) Blooming Rose Of Sharon Shrubs

'Lavender Chiffon' althea

Rose of Sharon, aka shrub althea, (Hibiscus syriacus) is a woody hibiscus shrub that is hardy in temperate northern areas of the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). This summer flowering shrub is exceptionally easy to grow. 

At one time,  it was a great pass-along shrub that fell out of favor. However, old fashioned varieties frequently reseeded around the garden. New cultivars strut variegated foliage, double flowers, and infertile (sterile) blooms that produce little or no seed. They are available in a wide range of flower colors including pink, purple, blue, white, and almost red. 

Blooms may be single, semi-double, and double and range in size from 2-5 inches across. They grow in average to good garden soils with moderate drainage. For maximum flowering, site plants where they receive 6 or more hours of direct sun and feed annually with a slow-release fertilizer such as Osmocote™ or Nutricote™. Blooms attract numerous bees and butterflies. Japanese beetles may damage the flowers for a few weeks in early summer, but shrubs rapidly recover.

After their first year, Rose of Sharons are highly drought tolerant. Shrubs respond well to annual pruning and to severe “rejuvenating” by pruning to a few inches above the ground.

Some gardeners opt to grow them as perennials by cutting the plant back every year or two. In late spring the “shortened” plant(s) emerge as multi-stems, grow a 2-3 feet tall, and flower.

Alternative technique: thin out emerging growth to 1, 3 or 5 main shoots to train into a small patio tree.

Utilize Rose of Sharon as a specimen shrub or small tree, as a shrub border, or set into a large container. Best of the sterile forms of Rose of Sharon (althea):

Chiffon® series feature anemone-like double blooms for low seed set and long-blooming; color choices: Lavender (purple), Blue, and White; 8-12 feet x 6-10 feet wide.

Sugar Tip® - pure pink double blooms (no seed) and variegated semi-double creamy-white blooms/ bluish-green foliage; 8-12 feet x 6-8 feet.

Purple Pillar® - slender columnar growth habit (16 feet tall x 3 feet wide), 4-inch vibrant purple single to semi-double flowers with red centers; ideal fit for small urban gardens.

'Thunderhead' Japanese Black Pine

Thunderhead Pine

'Thunderhead' (Pinus thunbergii) is a choice shrub selection of Japanese Black pine. This medium-sized evergreen shrub conifer grows 10 to 12 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide (in 10 - 15 years). Its distinctive cottony terminal buds and dark green densely packed needles are strikingly beautiful in the fall-winter landscape.

“Billowy emerald clouds of densely packed needles” best describes the overall look of Thunderhead pine.  Silvery white candles (shoots) grow 10 - 12 inches long in response to warm spring temps.  The candles reach their full length by late May and the long bright green needles enlarge. Branches are rigid and its lower needles are mostly retained.

Disease and pest problems are rare when sited properly in the landscape. Thunderhead is tolerant of moderate wind, drought, and salt spray. Provide shelter from harsh winds to minimize off-color in winter. Availability is primarily from specialty conifer nurseries on-line or regional conifer nurseries.

Desired location is moderately acidic soils that are well-drained and in full to partial sun. Provide a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight. Plant in late winter to early fall from container or balled and burlapped (B&B) stock. Feed annually in late winter with 10-10-10 or equivalent granular fertilizer. Allow 1-2 years to become established after planting; hence forth drought and heat tolerant.


Pruning is rarely necessary except for desired shaping and sizing; cut back new shoot growth (“candles”) between late May to early June before needles are fully expanded.

Thunderhead Japanese black pine a wonderful low maintenance, dark green, evergreen shrub conifer that deserves a place in your landscape.

Dwarf Forms Of Elkhorn Cedar (Thujopsis)

Elkhorn cedar (Thujopsis dolobrata) is a slow to moderate growing evergreen shrub or tree. It is also called Hiba or false arborvitae and deerhorn cedar, referring to the shape of its scale-like leaves. It is rarely grown in U.S. gardens (USDA hardiness zones 5-7).

Thujopsis 'Aurea'

This native of Japan and China has a pyramidal growth habit and beautiful dense foliage similar to arbovitae (Thuja spp.). Mature trees may reach 50 -100 feet in height in the Japanese woodlands.  

The scale-like bright or dark green leaves are arranged in flattened sprays with white markings beneath.  Its reddish-brown peeling bark adds to the plant's appeal.  Small 3/4 inch cones provide little ornamental value. 

False arborvitae grows best on a moist well-drained site in full sun or bright shade . Occasional watering is recommended in severe summer/fall dry periods. False arborvitae needs to be sheltered from dry winter winds.

Winter foliage color may vary by location and cultivar planted. Here in the Southern Appalachian Region (USDA zones 6 and 7), winter foliage takes on a muted olive-green tone.

Two dwarf clones are:

• 'Aurea' - a dense shrub with golden yellow foliage; grow in light shade.
• ‘Nana’ - a slow growing, dwarf mounding form with good plant symmetry. Its wintry foliage takes on a silvery tint.

A 10-year old 'Aurea' or 'Nana' thujopsis grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide. 

False arborvitae is hard to find in the nursery trade, but are available thru e-commerce specialty nurseries.