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How tall do crepe myrtle trees get?

Crepe myrtle trees are beautiful trees that adorn many gardens and roadsides. People always wonder how tall they get for obvious reasons.

Crepe myrtle trees typically get 15-25 feet tall. Shorter varieties have also been developed, including semi-dwarf varieties under about 10 feet tall and dwarf cultivars under 5 feet. There are also large varieties that grow to become 30-40 foot tall trees.

Keep reading to learn how tall crepe myrtle trees get, planting location information, and other helpful facts.

Crepe myrtle in bloom by sidewalk

How tall do crepe myrtle trees get?

Dwarf crepe myrtle trees typically grow 3-5 feet tall. Semi-dwarf crepe myrtles grow more like 5-10 feet tall. Common crepe myrtle trees can be 10-25 feet and are usually in the range of 15-25 feet at maturity. Large varieties typically grow 25 feet or taller.

Dwarf crepe myrtle heights

  • GreatMyrtle™ French Vanilla Crape Myrtle Shrub (Lagerstroemia x ‘G18147’): 2-3 feet tall
  • Enduring Summer™ Red Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘PIILAG B5’): 4-5 feet tall
  • Petite Red Imp™ Crape Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Monimp’): 5 feet tall

Semi-dwarf crepe myrtle heights

  • Hopi Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Hopi’): 5-10 feet tall
  • Tonto Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Tonto’): 8-10 feet tall

Common crepe myrtle heights

  • Black Diamond® Purely Purple™ Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia BLACK DIAMOND ‘Purely Purple’): 10-12 feet tall
  • Rhapsody in Pink Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x ‘Whit VIII’): 10-15 feet tall
  • Sioux Crape Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia indica x faueri ‘Sioux’): 12-15 feet tall
  • Dynamite Crepe Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit II’): 20-25 feet tall

Large crepe myrtle varieties

  • Muskogee Crape Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Muskogee’): 20-30 feet tall
  • Natchez Crape Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Natchez’): 20-30 feet tall
  • Fantasy Crepe Myrtle Tree (Lagerstroemia fauriei ‘Fantasy’): 30-50 feet tall
Crape myrtle tree with pink flowers

How long does it take a crepe myrtle to grow full size?

Crepe myrtles are very fast-growing trees! They often grow at a rate of 24 inches or more per year. The typical crepe myrtle tree grows between 15 and 25 feet, so in less than a decade, they have reached full size (anywhere from 5 to 10 years).

The crepe myrtle tree is heat-resistant and drought-tolerant, making it a very easy tree to care for. Their bark is smooth and often light in color. The light brown bark appears as if it is peeling away, giving it a speckled and unique look. The peeling of the bark is known as exfoliating bark because of how it looks. The tree usually blooms with showy pink flowers.

Pink crepe myrtle

How far from my house should I plant a crepe myrtle?

Since crepe myrtles grow so quickly and can be pretty tall, it’s smart to plant your tree not too close to any structures. While the roots of crepe myrtles aren’t invasive, damage could come from the tree or branches falling during a storm later in life. The flowers can also stain paint when they fall off the tree after blooming. Take these things into consideration when planting a baby crepe myrtle.

The attractive bark is a wonderful addition to the front or back of your home, and the relatively small tree isn’t known to cause much damage. Late spring is when they look the best full of flowers and bright colors!

What about dwarf varieties?

Dwarf varieties of crepe myrtles usually won’t grow beyond four feet tall. Some even smaller varieties only grow about a foot tall, making them perfect for small yards and small spaces. These cute little trees are only a few feet tall and wide and bloom all summer and create leaves in the fall. The brilliant fall color is a wonder to see in the cooler months.

A dwarf variety may be a wonderful choice for apartment complexes and to plant near large shrubs. Their mature size won’t get in the way and you can still enjoy these wildly popular trees.

Purple crape myrtle

Can crape myrtles be kept small?

It’s pretty simple to keep a crepe myrtle small in size by pruning it often, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy for the tree. Over-pruning can lead to plenty of health issues with the tree. A crepe myrtle tree should be pruned to a third of its size.

You should prune crepe myrtles periodically to keep any old growth off and to promote new growth throughout the seasons. Crepe myrtles do just fine without pruning, but if you have them in a space where light needs to be let through, pruning is ideal. Overall, very little pruning is required.

White crape myrtle

What is the crepe myrtles tree shape?

The shape of a crepe myrtle can be described as vase-shaped with a flat top or crown. The natural form will have a v-shape and can be pruned lightly to maintain this shape. The foliage will turn from dark green leaves to fall-colored leaves throughout the season.

Is there a difference between a crepe myrtle bush and a tree?

The crepe myrtle bush and the crepe myrtle tree are very similar, but their differences lie in the dimensions. A bush will be shorter and squatter, while a tree will be taller. The bush version won’t grow past 11 feet, while a tree may grow to 20 or 30 feet tall once fully mature.

Crape myrtle

What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle tree?

Crepe myrtles typically live for about 25 years, but some have been known to live for much longer. Several reported trees have lived to about 100 years old. Those are some pretty healthy and robust trees! With their crossing branches and multiple trunks, they are a sight to behold.

Crepe myrtles bloom in early spring and well into summer. You will be able to enjoy their white flowers or pink flowers throughout the warm months. Early spring is a great time to spot their flowers budding and forming. Head over to the garden center and grab a small tree before the next growing season hits.

Is it crepe myrtle or crape myrtle?

The spelling of crepe/crape is much like color/color and gray/grey, it just depends on where you are from. If you see it spelled crepe myrtle, you are most likely talking to someone from the south. If you see crape myrtle, the person may be from the north. This isn’t always the case, but it seems to be the trend. No one is wrong, so pick the spelling you like and go with it.

Is powdery mildew on my tree bad?

If you notice powdery mildew on your crepe myrtle plants, your tree is most likely infected. You will see these white speckled spots on the leaves, shoots, branches, and bark of the tree. You will even see it on the flower buds. As the mildew takes over, the leaves will start to fall off.

Watch out for root rot as well. While crepe myrtles do well in all soil types, well-drained soil is best for any plant. This will help avoid plant diseases and sooty mold from developing. Plant your tree in full sun to make sure they stay as dry as possible. Use a slow-release fertilizer whenever possible to promote new and future foliage growth. The pine bark will thank you.

Fun facts about crepe myrtles

Want to know some fun facts about crepe myrtles and their cinnamon-colored bark? Check out these interesting facts about the crepe myrtle botanical trees:

  • Crepe myrtles bloom from June to September. They are known as the Tree of 100 Days because they bloom for 100 days through those months. You will see new growth from early spring into early summer and beyond.
  • Crepe myrtles are deciduous. They grow crepe-like flowers in the summer and orange-red leaves in the fall. Their showy summer flowers are beautiful, and so are the fall leaves.
  • Crepe myrtles love the heat. Plant these trees in full sun and watch them blossom and grow throughout the summer and far into the fall.
  • Crepe myrtle is most commonly spelled with an E after the ‘crepe’ paper the flowers resemble.
  • Crepe myrtles thrive in any soil. They aren’t picky and can grow in even the poorest of soils, even slightly acidic soil.

Looking for more facts about trees that do well around your driveway and yard? Read The 10 Best Trees To Line A Driveway or Top 5 Fast Growing Driveway Trees For Your Landscape to learn more.

I hope this information about the crepe myrtle is useful and helps you understand how tall your crepe myrtle will grow over the years. Crepe myrtles are wonderful trees to have on-site, so enjoy them and know you won’t have to do much to care for them. Their drought-tolerant demeanor will make them the perfect tree for any growing season.

References

Mary Jane Duford
Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford is a quintessential Canadian gardener. An engineer by trade, she tends to an ever-expanding collection of plants. In her world, laughter blooms as freely as her flowers, and every plant is raised with a dash of Canadian grit.

Mary Jane is a certified Master Gardener and also holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. She's also a proud mom of three, teaching her little sprouts the crucial difference between a garden friend and foe.

When she's not playing in the dirt, Mary Jane revels in her love for Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, ice hockey, and the surprisingly soothing sounds of bluegrass covers of classic hip-hop songs. She invites you to join her garden party, a place where you can share in the joy of growing and where every day is a new opportunity to find the perfect spot for yet another plant.

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