FAQs

Q: Why is bark peeling from my crapemyrtle?
A: Old bark flakes off crapemyrtle trunks in summer to expose brightly colored new bark. The new bark is as beautiful as the flowers on many crapemyrtle hybrids. Colors range from near-white to warm beige to orange to cinnamon-brown to bright red. The colorful bark persists through winter until fading in spring when the process starts over again.

Q: How can I get my crapemyrtle to grow faster?
A: Crapemyrtle seems to thrive on neglect, and often grows fast even without special treatment. However, regular watering and
light applications of fertilizer will help crape myrtle grow faster. The amount of water and fertilizer isn't as important as the frequency. Check with your local county Extension office for specific recommendations for your situation.

Q: Why won't my crapemyrtle flower?
A: There are two main reasons why your crapemyrtle might not flower as expected. First, make sure your crapemyrtle is planted
in full sun. Crapemyrtle won't flower well in areas receiving less than 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Next, make sure your
crapemyrtle wasn't planted too deep. The upper-most root should be even with ground-level or an inch or two above – never below the soil line. When crapemyrtle is planted too deep, the roots can't get enough oxygen, thus stressing the plant and reducing growth and flowering. Crapemyrtle can recover, but it usually takes several years for the plant to regenerate a new root system closer to the surface.

Q: What's the black stuff on the leaves of my crapemyrtle?
A: A black or brown layer on leaves is sooty mold, a fungus harmless to crapemyrtle. However, sooty mold usually indicates presence of aphids, insects that feed on plant sap of new growth. Aphids exude excess sap, called honeydew, onto leaves below. Sooty mold uses the sugary honeydew to grow and form a black covering over crapemyrtle leaves. Large numbers of aphids can distort new growth and result in many leaves covered with sooty mold. Fortunately, aphids can be controlled by beneficial insects already in your garden. Alternatively, you can manage them by spraying horticultural soaps or oils, relatively safe pesticides found in most garden centers. As with any pesticide, read and follow all label directions carefully. Once aphids are controlled, rain and wind will naturally remove sooty mold from leaves.

Q: What's the white stuff on the leaves of my crapemyrtle?
Powdery mildew is a fungus that looks like a whitish powder on the tops of leaves. It occurs most often on old varieties of crapemyrtle in shady, humid locations when days are warm and nights are cool. When especially severe, it will distort new growth and flower buds. New hybrid varieties are resistant to powdery mildew. If you happen to have an older crapemyrtle susceptible to powdery mildew, a non-chemical method for reducing disease is to prune the plant to increase air movement. This reduces humidity around the leaves, making conditions less suitable for powdery mildew. If powdery mildew reoccurs often, you might consider fungicides. These are applied before the disease starts, when weather conditions are right for the disease, or at the first sign of disease. Homeowners may find suitable fungicides under many different brand names. Look for products labeled for powdery mildew on crapemyrtle. Check with your local county Extension office for specific recommendations. As with any pesticide, read and follow all label directions carefully.