Mature Lagerstroemia indica. Image by Bishnu Sarangi from PixabayDescription:

The Pride of India (Lagerstroemia indica) is also commonly called the “Crape Myrtle”, “Trots van Indie” or “Skubliesroos”. It is a spectacular little tree native to the Indian subcontinent, and China, Japan and Korea.

It is most often multi-stemmed with a wide and spreading, flat topped crown. However it has a variable growth habit, and can sometimes be rounded, or shrub-like with an irregular and open habit. It is deciduous, and in colder regions its dark green foliage turns yellow, orange and red before dropping.

In its first ten years it grows moderately to around 3.5m tall with a 2m spread, but at maturity can attain heights of 6 to 7m or more with a spread of 3 to 4m.

Its peeling bark is one of the most distinctive features of pride of India, creating a striking architectural focal point during the winter months when the bare silvery-grey trunks mottled with pink, are highlighted.

The flowering period lasts from 60-120 days, starting from mid-to-late summer, when large panicles of flowers with pretty crimped petals smother the branches. The most common colour is pink but you also get combinations of pink and white, or red flowers with a delicate white edging. Colours also include pure white, lavender, mauve, purple, or carmine red.  Seed heads follow the flowers and persist throughout winter.

Cultivars include dwarf types with flowers in shades of pink, white or red.

‘Black Diamond’ is a relatively new variety with stunning near-black foliage and eye catching blooms in various shades. If left unpruned it will grow to an approximate height of 3m with a spread of about 2.5m. Black Diamond responds well to pruning and grows beautifully in pots, making it wonderful for small gardens.

The following varieties are available in South Africa:

Black Diamond ‘Lavender Lace’

Black Diamond ‘Purely Purple’

Black Diamond ‘Mystic Magenta’

Black Diamond ‘Pure White’

Lagerstroemia indica 'Light Pink' Image by hartono subagio from PixabayIn the Garden:

The pride of India is widely cultivated in warmer climates around the world for its long flowering period, attractive autumn foliage, and beautiful bark.

Because it responds well to pruning it can easily be trimmed into a large shrub or a small tree, making it useful in smaller gardens. It also makes a wonderful flowering screen or informal hedging plant.

The spreading surface roots are not invasive, but in tiny gardens it is recommended to select dwarf varieties, or to contain the plant. All types of pride of India are suitable for growing in pots, but the dwarf varieties flourish in containers.

This tree is used for erosion control, and because it also grows well in spaces with limited soil, it is highly recommended for planting in urban and suburban areas, along boulevards, in parking lots, small pavement cut-outs, or where air pollution, poor drainage, and compacted soil are common.

Cultivation:

Where does Pride of India grow best in South Africa?

Although the pride of India will grow throughout South Africa, it thrives in the warmer regions of the country.

In humid regions it is susceptible to powdery mildew, but newer cultivars like Black Diamond have an excellent resistance to mildew.

Does Pride of India grow at the coast?

It is moderately tolerant of salty coastal winds, but does best in a sheltered position.

Is Pride of India hardy to cold and frost?

Once established the plant is hardy to severe frost, but in very harsh conditions it is often grown more like a flowering shrub that is pruned back hard to the ground each spring.

Does Pride of India require full sun?

Full sun is best to prevent powdery mildew but the plants will tolerate some light shade.

How much water does Pride of India require?

Once established it is water wise and drought hardy. Water young plants regularly until they are established. In very dry and hot regions it will need moderate but regular watering to look at its best.

Potted specimen will need more regular watering during the growing season than those growing in garden beds.

What soil type is best for Pride of India?

The pride of India will grow in most fertile, compost enriched garden soils, acid or alkaline; including sand, loam and clay, as long as the soil drains well.

How to fertilise Pride of India?

Refreshing the topsoil with an annual mulch of organic compost and feeding with a good balanced fertiliser for flowering plants should suffice to keep it healthy and blooming well. Since cultivars are now available in a wide range of growth heights, severe pruning should not be necessary to control size.

Potted specimens will need regular feeding during the growing season.

Lagerstroemia indica 'White' Image by hartono subagio from PixabayPruning:

The pride of India responds extremely well to pruning which is generally undertaken in late spring or early summer. However, unless you are training your plant into a small tree or informal screen, pruning is not necessary except to remove any dead or diseased branches.

Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before the new growth begins. It is also easier to see which branches to prune when the plant is leafless. Pruning methods vary from topping, to cutting the entire plant down nearly to the ground each spring.  In severely cold regions severe pruning may be necessary to remove frosted branches; but this will result in a busy shrub with lots of basal sprouting.

Topping creates several long, thin branches from each cut, and these will hang down underneath the weight of the flowers. Merely topping the tree may disfigure the natural branch structure and stimulate basal sprouting which can become a nuisance, requiring regular removal, unless you are growing the plant as a large shrub or screen. For this reason, many gardeners opt to remove completely any dead wood or branches which are in the way, rather than just clipping the top of the tree. Flower stalks however, can be pruned out lightly after the first flush of flowers to encourage a second flush. Lower branches are often thinned or completely removed in order to form a shade tree and to show off the trunk.

Propagation:

Propagation is by hardwood cuttings in winter or soft tip cuttings in summer, but this tree can be difficult to root.

Pests & Diseases:

The pride of India is plagued by few insects, but watch out for aphids which often infest the new growth, attracting ants and causing an unsightly but harmless sooty mould to grow on the foliage and branches. 

They are, however, susceptible to powdery mildew damage, especially in humid regions, or when planted in some shade or when the leaves are kept moist. New cultivars are more resistant to powdery mildew.

Warning:

The flowers of some selections may stain car paint.

The Crape Myrtle tree is not poisonous, so no harm will come to your pets. Nevertheless, pets should be discouraged from nibbling the tree when it is young.