Can crepe myrtle survive winter?

Most crape myrtle varieties are winter hardy to zone 7, which corresponds to a minimum winter temperature of 0° to 10° F. Depending on where you live in Ohio, you may be in zone 5 or 6, where crape myrtles will need some winter protection in order to survive. … The crape myrtle will look deceased, but hang in there!

Can you grow crepe myrtle in Pittsburgh?

* What it is: Dynamite is one of the cold-toughest of that common Southern landscape tree, the crape myrtle, one rated to tolerate an average central-Pennsylvania winter (down to Zone 6). It produces clusters of salmony-red flowers from July to September.

Can crepe myrtles grow in the Northeast?

They were not hardy enough to live through our cold winter months and instead thrived only in warmer climates like North Carolina. Luckily many of those southern varieties have been cross-bred with hardier types, making crape myrtles more accessible to areas of the Northeast.

How cold hardy are crepe myrtles?

All crape myrtles are sun lovers, generally cold hardy in Zones 7-10, although there are some that will work in Zone 6 as well. They are extremely heat-tolerant and quite drought-tolerant once established.

What is the prettiest crape myrtle?

Top 5 Crape Myrtle Tree Varieties
  • Tuscarora Crape Myrtle. Maturing to a height of around 20 feet, the Tuscarora Crape Myrtle is known by its signature coral, pink blooms. …
  • Muskogee Crape Myrtle. …
  • Natchez Crape Myrtle. …
  • Arapaho Crape Myrtle. …
  • Black Diamond Crape Myrtle.

How do you protect crepe myrtles in the winter?

It is advisable to wrap young (1 year or less) and small Crepe Myrtle trees. Wrap burlap around the branches and then add an insulating filler such as leaves or straw to provide additional protection. Use bush jackets for dwarf plants. Bush jackets are reusable insulating covers that cover the plant.

Is crape myrtle poisonous to dogs?

Many beautiful plants contain toxins that present a danger to puppies and other animals. However, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that crepe myrtle is perfectly safe and non-toxic for animals, as well as humans.

Will crepe myrtles freeze?

Crape myrtles can tolerate temperatures as low as approximately 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Below-zero temperatures and hard freezes may cause crape myrtles to die back during the winter.

Are crepe myrtles messy?

Yes, I love crepe myrtles. And yes, they can be very messy. … First, my crepe myrtle has been attacked by a common fungus called Cercospora leaf spot. Black spots begin appearing on the leaves in midsummer causing the foliage to prematurely turn red and yellow before steadily dropping.

What animal eats crepe myrtles?

Goldfinches, dark-eyed juncos, house finches, cardinals, and house and white-throated sparrows visit the trees continually from early December through late February to devour the abundant seed crop that crape myrtles provide.

What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle tree?

50 years
Lifespan – When planted in full sun and fertile soil, Crepe Myrtles can live well beyond 50 years. In fact, dotted along the southeastern landscape, it is common to come across specimens over 100 years old.

What is the best time to plant crape myrtle trees?

Crape myrtles will survive in almost any soil and sunny location. However, because they flower on new growth, the better the soil, the more they grow and flower. The best time to plant crape myrtle is June to late September while soils are warm.

Do hummingbirds eat crepe myrtles?

Hummingbirds like to feed from flowering shrubs that include azaleas, rhododendron, crape myrtle, weigela, rose of Sharon and butterfly bush. Coral bells, garden phlox, delphinium, hollyhocks, columbine, dianthus, hostas, perennial hibiscus and day lilies are also tasty treats.

Do Deers eat crepe myrtle trees?

From the article at the link – Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) come in a variety of different hybrids with bright, lacy flower clusters in the summer. … Though the hungriest deer will eat plants not characteristic of its regular diet, deer will seldom eat any variety of crape myrtle.

Do ants harm crepe myrtles?

Crape myrtle hardiness varies by species, but most commonly grown varieties thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 to 9. All can suffer ant invasions.

Do butterflies like crepe myrtle?

Crape myrtle is a year-round favorite in the South, where it thrives in the warmth and blooms from July to September. The spectacular flowers won’t stop attracting butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. You can even remove the first wave of flowers to encourage a second bloom.

Are crape myrtles good for bees?

Crape myrtle appears to provide a pollen source for several native bee species as well as for honey bees. … Moreover, as crape myrtle blooms during summer months when other pollen sources are scarce, it has great potential to alleviate stress on pollinators due to food shortages.

Do bees and butterflies like crepe myrtle?

Flowers on ‘Seminole’, ‘Victor, and ‘Apalachee’ crape myrtles attracted the most bees. Although crape myrtles are attractive to pollinators, they are prone to a few pest problems for which systemic insecticides are sometimes applied.

Do butterflies like Abelia?

Abelia is in the honeysuckle family and, as you might expect, produces sweet nectar that attracts nectar-lovers including butterflies, hummingbirds and children.

Are crepe myrtles valuable?

They do not produce a bounty of pollen and nectar for our native pollinators, or serve as a valuable source of seeds for birds and other wildlife species.

Do crepe myrtles cause allergies?

Chinese pistache, crepe myrtles, flowering Japanese plums and flowering cherry trees are not usually an allergy problem.

How do you grow a crape myrtle from a branch?

Take cuttings in spring or summer where they meet the main branch, about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm.) in length with about 3-4 nodes per cutting. Remove all the leaves except the last two or three. Although rooting hormone is not usually required, giving them a boost does make it easier to propagate crepe myrtle cuttings.