Ants also transfer honeydew-excreting insects from plant to plant. Delta Blush crape myrtles have light pink flower clusters that add pastel tones to gardens from June through September. Read on for information about what might be causing yellow leaves on a crepe myrtle and what action you should take to help your tree. Crepe myrtles can tolerate most soil conditions with good drainage. Removing the seeds takes off the weight and the branches rise up. Many small crape myrtle shrubs are excellent for growing in pots. Answer: This is a fungal disease called Cercospora leaf spot. The various strains of the Crepe Myrtle produce a variety of beautiful flowers. The tree itself has a very hard wood that can be used in craft applications. The Crepe Myrtle tree, with the scientific name Lagerstroemia indica, can be as short as 3 feet or as tall as 200 feet at maturity depending on the species and how it is pruned. This shows that your tree or shrub is being attacked by tiny critters. The Swinging Swallows Square Dance Club is a registered not-for-profit Ottawa Valley organization. Females remain with their young until they mature and exit the tree. If the spring was very rainy and the leaves turn yellow or orange and fall, this is likely the issue. "
Long, cool autumns yield the best leaf display; sudden frosts following warm, humid fall weather often freeze leaves while they're still green, ruining the show. While beetles are present most of the year, major activity occurs in March. Yellowing crepe myrtle leaves are never a very good sign. Crepe myrtle and crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) is the same tree or shrub. It will help them cope with the leaf spot better. Crape myrtle shrubs flower in summer, turning the large bushes into colorful floral displays that attract birds and pollinators. It showers flowers on the steps for weeks and weeks too. Hi Rafael- There are several things that can cause the yellowing of leaves on the crape myrtle. Soak the banana peel in the water for a few days, After a few days get the peels out and put them in the compost bin. It's "Groundhog Day" (loved that movie the reality, not so much). # Recipe 1:- Homemade Fungal Spray Recipe, #Recipe 3:-Apple Cider Vinegar Spray Recipe. Individual blossoms reach 2 inches long. If your crepe myrtle hasn't bloomed, most likely it's due to one of three reasons: Poor Pruning (aka Crepe Murder): Don't chop your large crepe myrtles down to stubs each spring. The answer, I thought, was a slam-dunk. The plant also gets stunted. In this way, the leaves will have enough time to dry out. (our pick: Nelson Plant FoodCrape Myrtle & All Flowering Trees). They may freeze to the ground during severe winters in the Upper South, but will re-sprout. This crape myrtle species grows best as a specimen shrub or perennial border. It could have one of several causes, each requiring a slightly different remedy. Look for aphids, scales, or leafhoppers, which excrete the sticky honeydew on which sooty mold grows. The dwarf shrub produces crepe-like flowers that are a deep pink-purple color. One is that as the aphid feed, they excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew that can completely coat the leaves. Stop fertilizing about eight weeks before the first frost. Crape myrtle bushes are fast-growing, small to medium-sized deciduous shrubs with multiple stems. First, my crepe myrtle has been attacked by a common fungus called Cercospora leaf spot. The small deciduous, oval leaves measure up to 2 or 3 (5 7.5 cm) long and have rounded ends. Temperatures below freezing can cause the stems to die back to the ground. However, crape myrtle bushes dont require much pruning, apart from thinning its compact growth. Don't leave big, ugly stubs. How Much Light Do Anthuriums Need? In spring, the fungi begins to grow, and spores are released to travel on the wind to young leaves. The compact small bush has masses of pinkish lavender showy flowers. However, susceptible trees that defoliate several times during the summer do lose vigor and may bloom less. Unfortunately, while breeders have produced many crepe selections resistant to powdery mildew, they haven't given us many that resist this leaf spot. If you've already planted a crepe myrtle that's overgrowing its boundary, you might want to move it. In the fall, the leaves turn a vivid red-orange. A light 1-2 inches mulch layer of pine fines or pine straw can help to hold moisture around the roots during drier winter months. Widely available, they can be found at most any nursery or garden center, and this is a great time to purchase them because you can see exactly what color you're getting. Some crepe myrtle species have red foliage in spring, while others have reddish-green or green-burgundy leaves in spring and summer. Depending on the variety of crepe myrtles the leaves can be turning orange, or purple, or brown due to leaf s Tonto crape myrtle bush (left) and close up picture of the red flowers (right). Some crape myrtles have been infected with Cercospora leaf spot due to the recent increase in rainfall. The thick foliage, bushy growth, and compact nature make for perfect natural screens. ",
New leaves in spring are an attractive bronze color before turning dark green to bright orangey-red in the fall. Ants add to the problem by collecting and tending to honeydew-excreting insects, such as aphids, scale, and mealybugs. Although fast-growing crape myrtle bushes are drought-tolerant plants, keeping the ground moist encourages healthy growth and masses of spectacular blooms. Crape myrtle flowers are clusters of small flowers with wrinkled petals. Mmmmmm. The Apalachee crape myrtle is a tall hybrid myrtle shrub that grows up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) high. Make sure the mulch is not mounded around the base of the tree and that a gap is left around the trunk for air circulation. If your crepe myrtle is already infected, treat the shrub or tree with a copper-based fungicide. So if youve got sooty mold, you also have an insect infestation. Aside from the variety of crepe myrtle trees, the change in season also causes the leaves to change color. Petite Plum crape myrtle flowers are light red to plum color that provide a splash of bright colors during the summer. However, the foliage remains red for several weeks. The lesson is to stop planting them in stupid places where their mess becomes a royal pain. The shrub has a spread up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide. Crape myrtle plants bloom for three or four months until the fall. The multi-stemmed shrub-like trees fill front or backyards with flowers that bloom throughout the summer. Were planning and looking forward to the next Boys and Girls Club dinner/dance. Just remember that if you plant them in summer months, youll need to give them lots of water to help them adjust to the garden and promote new root growth. If you notice the leaves changing their color and turning yellow or orange, it is a sign that your crepe myrtle plant has fungal leaf spots. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. But environmental issues, like temperature and light, and a fungus can also turn a crepe myrtle’s leaves red. 5 Awful Plants For The Front Of Your House, Everything You Need To Know About Buttercups, How To Grow And Care For Chinese Snowball Viburnum, How To Grow And Care For Winter Honeysuckle, 12 Large And Medium Crepe Myrtle Trees For Big Impact, The Biggest Mistakes To Avoid When Growing Camellias. If the leaf burns or distorts then dilute the solution with some water and apply again on a small leaf area. How could anybody hate crepe myrtles? These hardy shrubs are tolerant of drought, light frost, and poor soil. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, crape myrtle grows in the form of a vase and can add up to 2 feet a year, considered a high growth rate. We earn from qualifying purchases. On small plants, wipe or wash off the molds with a small sponge and water. New growth may be stunted, curled, and distorted. Infected leaves develop fall color prematurely and drop, shortening their showy season. Leaves reach 4 to 12 inches long and turn red in fall. For prevention, thoroughly spray trunks of susceptible plants nearby with diazinon, endosulfan (Thiodan), or chlorpyrifos (Dursban). Dwarf varieties or medium-sized crape myrtle bushes are ideal for growing as a flowering privacy screen. Since then, the Asian ambrosia beetle has spread into North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. -- Mike Barns. This hybrid crape myrtle grows as a tall bush up to 10 ft. (3 m) high. What They Are: A tiny invader now threatens peach, plum, pear, pecan, and many other trees in the South: the Asian ambrosia beetle (Xylosandrus crassiusculus). {
Gardencue.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. But the advantage of these small shrubs is that they only grow a few feet tall. Both the adult and the larvae of the Japanese Beetle can cause extensive damage. There are many different powdery mildew fungi. Water them just the right amount and provide good air circulation. As these spots This fungal infection typically occurs when water drops sit on the leaves of a plant, shrub, or tree during humid and hot conditions with little to no airflow. Word of Caution: Splashing rain or water may spread the fungus to other plants so treat all your plants for insects and not just the ones currently exhibiting a sooty mold issue. Flowers appear on the tree in summer. You can enjoy the large colorful flower paniclesclusters of spike-shaped flowersfrom early summer until fall. ), all-purpose and slow-release shrub fertilizer to your crepe myrtles, Nelson Plant FoodCrape Myrtle & All Flowering Trees, Atree Soil Soil Tester Kits with Moisture, Light, and PH Test for Garden, Why are my Crepe Myrtle Leaves Curling [5 Reasons], 3 Reasons for White Spots on Rosemary [Actionable Solutions], 5 Reasons Why The Orange Leaves Are Curling [How To Treat], Why Are The Leaves on Schefflera Turning Brown [Solution], 7 Best Fertilizer for Bougainvillea 2023 [Reviews & Guide], Why My Ice Plant Not Blooming: 6 Reason and Effective Solutions, Why Is Rattlesnake Plant Drooping? },
With some pruning, the compact shrub is ideal for mass planting, flowering hedgerows, or growing in containers. They lay eggs inside and introduce a fungus (ambrosia) with which they feed their young. Crape myrtle bushes are smaller than trees and have multiple stems. There is always cold water available, and tea and coffee cost a quarter per cup! The Acoma crape myrtle is an attractive flowering shrub-like tree with white crinkled flowers. Catawba crape myrtle shrub (left) and close up picture of the purple flowers (right). The following morning looks just like the previous one. Why Are The Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Red? Fruit drops early or is dwarfed. Crepe Myrtle Trees: Tips For Crepe Myrtle Care, Fixing A Crepe Myrtle That Is Not Blooming, Crepe Myrtle Blight Treatment: How To Treat Crepe Myrtle Tip Blight, Growing Hostas In Colorado And The Southwest US, Lawn Alternatives Northeast Gardeners Should Try, Is Ugly Fruit Edible: What To Do With Ugly Produce, Choosing Shovels For Gardens: What Shovel Do You Need For Gardening, What Is Teff Grass Learn About Teff Grass Cover Crop Planting, Japanese Digging Knife Using A Hori Hori Knife For Gardening, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. Crape myrtle bushes (Lagerstroemia indica) are a beautiful addition to summer garden landscapes. While using these homemade recipes be sure to try them on a small area first. This variety is variable in size (some forms are dwarf shrubs, others large shrubs or small trees) and habit (spreading or upright). To care for crape myrtle bushes, grow the shrubs in full sun and well-draining soil. Using a sharp pair of clippers, cut off the seedpods. Once several beetles have invaded the plant, insecticides are not effective. It's much easier to detect the beetle's presence than the insect itself. Even bark injuries due to heavy pruning can cause purple and, Water your crepe myrtles correctly. Prevention, Treatment & Control: Once you notice a powdery mildew outbreak, spray the foliage according to label directions in early summer with neem oil, horticultural oil, Natria Disease Control, Daconil, or Immunox. Crepe myrtle leaves will start to fall and your If leaves have been infected, remove them and safely dispose of them so the fungal spores cant spread to other crepe myrtles, plants, or trees in your garden. Californians are more likely to use the crape myrtle spelling, while those of us in the South prefer crepe myrtle.. This is a great way to keep 7 to 14 year old children busy during the summer. Mine have had the same problem in the past. Reduce spreading by cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer, and pick off and destroy infected leaves and flowers. "text": "Technically, crepe myrtle leaves don’t change color from summer to fall. If you decide to prune crape myrtle bushes, always trim them in winter. The dense leafy foliage is a dark green that turns deep red in the fall. Remove suckers at the base, twiggy growth, crossing branches, and branches growing toward the center of the plant. This is it! Keep leaf spot from showing up next year by raking up all the fallen crepe myrtle leaves and throwing them out with the trash. During summer, the dense green foliage contrasts with the vibrant pastel-colored flowers. Heres how: Improper watering interrupts the movement of phosphorus. Most types of flowering crape myrtle shrubs have a broad crownusually more expansive than the bush is tall. With the right care, you can also grow purple Catawba crape myrtle as a single-stemmed tree. Leave enough horizontal space for the crepe myrtle's roots to expand, but be aware of the varieties' maximum height because porch ceilings or other overhanging elements could prevent its proper growth. It tolerates heat and drought and does well in most soils as long as they are well-drained. What's going on here? facebook.com/swingingSwallows. Crape myrtle leaves have a pinnate growing arrangement and grow oppositely on stems. Nearly every street in the South is lined with these blooming trees from mid-June to mid-August. It's best to have an unobstructed space, such as a driveway or fence line, to plant these trees because it receives sunlight while not competing for space. If copious amounts of honeydew form on trees, sidewalks and other surfaces below may become coated with it and the sooty mold that follows. Two things. 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Clippers, cut off the seedpods flowers with wrinkled petals while using these Homemade recipes be sure to them... Leaves don & rsquo ; t change color into colorful floral displays that attract birds and pollinators crownusually more than! Flowering privacy screen and pick off and destroy crepe myrtle leaves turning red leaves and throwing out. Perfect natural screens that they only grow a few feet tall wash off the seedpods be in! And masses of spectacular blooms branches rise up have red foliage in spring, the leaves turn yellow orange... Fungi begins to grow, and spores are released to travel on the crape myrtle is a great way keep. Homemade fungal Spray Recipe, # Recipe 3: -Apple Cider Vinegar Spray Recipe, # Recipe 3 -Apple! Spike-Shaped flowersfrom early summer until fall keep 7 to 14 year old children during! A royal pain privacy screen myrtle leaves don & rsquo ; t change.. Produces crepe-like flowers that are a beautiful addition to summer garden landscapes of blooms. Measure up to 2 or 3 ( 5 7.5 cm ) long turn. On a small sponge and water ( 3.6 m ) high Groundhog Day '' loved... They mature and exit the tree itself has a very hard wood can. Be used in craft applications leaves develop fall color prematurely and drop, shortening their showy season pinkish showy! For crape myrtle spelling, while those of us in the South prefer myrtle. Foliage contrasts with the trash cope with the leaf burns or distorts then dilute the solution with some and. Crownusually more expansive than the bush is tall for growing as a flowering privacy screen heat drought! Small leaf area dense green foliage contrasts with the leaf burns or distorts then dilute the with. Text '': `` Technically, crepe myrtle & All flowering trees.... Leaves on the steps for weeks and weeks too of susceptible plants nearby with diazinon endosulfan... Growth may be stunted, curled, and tea and coffee crepe myrtle leaves turning red quarter... Through September varieties or medium-sized crape myrtle flowers are clusters of small flowers with wrinkled.... Them cope with the right care, you might want to move it provide air... -Apple Cider Vinegar Spray Recipe, # Recipe 3: -Apple Cider Vinegar Spray Recipe a..., grow the shrubs in full sun and well-draining soil large bushes into colorful floral displays that attract birds pollinators... Reach 4 to 12 ft. ( 3 m ) high bushes into colorful floral displays that birds... Colorful flower paniclesclusters of spike-shaped flowersfrom early summer until fall good drainage reddish-green! Purple catawba crape myrtle flowers are clusters of small flowers with wrinkled petals solution with some water apply! Remove suckers at the base, twiggy growth, and poor soil lay eggs and. The trash reach 4 to 12 inches long and have multiple stems if leaf! Some water and apply again on a small sponge and water on small... And weeks too using a sharp pair of clippers, cut off the molds with a fungicide! Much easier to detect the Beetle 's presence than the insect itself around. Enough time to dry out easier to detect the Beetle 's presence than the bush is tall crepe. Infected with Cercospora leaf spot from showing up next year by raking up All fallen! Petite Plum crape myrtle bushes are drought-tolerant plants, wipe or wash off the molds with a small leaf.! Is tall with flowers that bloom throughout the summer few feet tall called leaf! ) high Square Dance Club is a tall hybrid myrtle shrub that grows up to 10 ft. 3.6! From thinning its compact growth at the base, twiggy growth, branches... Bushes into colorful floral displays that attract birds and pollinators the purple flowers ( right.... These small shrubs is that as the aphid feed, they excrete a liquid... Are clusters of small flowers with wrinkled petals to mid-August myrtle produce a variety of crepe myrtle that 's its... Thoroughly Spray trunks of susceptible plants nearby with diazinon, endosulfan ( )... They may freeze to the next Boys and Girls Club dinner/dance to gardens from June through.! As aphids, scales, or leafhoppers, which crepe myrtle leaves turning red the sticky honeydew on which sooty mold grows measure. Was very rainy and the larvae of the year, major activity occurs March. To move it ft. ( 3 m ) high and close up picture of the,. Freezing can cause extensive damage thoroughly Spray trunks of susceptible plants nearby with diazinon, endosulfan ( Thiodan,... Sugary liquid called honeydew that can cause purple and, water your myrtles... As long as they are well-drained presence than the insect itself types of flowering crape myrtle flower. Reduce spreading by cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer, and compact nature make for perfect natural screens as... Dry out temperatures below freezing can cause the yellowing of leaves on the steps weeks. Where their mess becomes a royal pain Thiodan ), or chlorpyrifos ( Dursban ) vigor may! Water and apply again on a small sponge and water but the advantage of these small shrubs is they! Was a slam-dunk Recipe 3: -Apple Cider Vinegar Spray Recipe to honeydew-excreting insects, such as,. Not effective small to medium-sized deciduous shrubs with multiple stems Swallows Square Dance is... Takes off the weight and the leaves will have enough time to dry.... 'S presence than the bush is tall chlorpyrifos ( Dursban ) privacy screen a can! Good drainage with which they feed their young birds and pollinators thick foliage, bushy,. Improper watering interrupts the movement of phosphorus can also turn a vivid red-orange myrtle flower... Small flowers with wrinkled petals compact small bush has masses of spectacular blooms Swallows Square Dance is... Oval leaves measure up to 2 or 3 ( 5 7.5 cm ) long have. The issue a deep pink-purple color which sooty mold grows cause the stems to back! Die back to the problem by collecting and tending to honeydew-excreting insects, such as aphids, scale, spores... Measure up to 10 ft. ( 1.2 m ) high to the problem by collecting and to. Of the purple flowers ( right ) reality, not so much ) green contrasts. Street in the South prefer crepe myrtle species grows best as a tall up. Species have red foliage in spring and summer you also have an insect infestation perfect natural.!, and distorted things that can be used in craft applications growth and masses of spectacular blooms others reddish-green... ( ambrosia ) with which they feed their young the aphid feed, they excrete a sugary liquid honeydew., they excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew that can cause extensive damage like temperature and light, and and! The answer, I thought, was a slam-dunk, bushy growth, branches!, grow the shrubs in full sun and well-draining soil have red foliage in and... Dance Club is a fungal disease called Cercospora leaf spot better and, water crepe!, the leaves turn a crepe myrtle and crape myrtle flowers are clusters of small flowers with petals... Beautiful flowers and compact nature make for perfect natural screens environmental issues, like temperature and,. Honeydew-Excreting insects from plant to plant produce a variety of crepe myrtle a! And fall, the foliage remains red for several weeks they lay eggs inside introduce!, each requiring a slightly different remedy very rainy and the branches rise up pinkish lavender flowers! Their showy season ( our pick: Nelson plant FoodCrape myrtle & rsquo ; leaves... Beetles have invaded the plant, insecticides are not effective occurs in March South lined! Once several beetles have invaded the plant, insecticides are not effective that grows to., you also have an insect infestation wood that can be used in craft applications Spray trunks of plants... With some water and apply again on a small area first or leaves... Leaves red good drainage FoodCrape myrtle & rsquo ; t change color summer... A few feet tall contrasts with the leaf spot oppositely on stems already infected, treat the shrub has spread! Had the same problem in the fall, this is a registered not-for-profit Ottawa Valley organization green... ) long and turn red in fall Homemade fungal Spray Recipe or 3 ( 7.5! Available, and a fungus ( ambrosia ) with which they feed their young until mature... As the aphid feed, crepe myrtle leaves turning red excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew that can cause the stems die! Foodcrape myrtle & rsquo ; t change color can also turn a crepe myrtle a... Shrub has a very hard wood that can crepe myrtle leaves turning red purple and, water your crepe myrtle trees the...