Natchez Crepe Myrtle: Tall White Crape Myrtle Tree With Cinnamon Bark
Natchez crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia 'Natchez') is a white-flowering hybrid crape myrtle that grows 20 to 30 feet tall with a broad, multi-trunk canopy and peeling cinnamon-brown bark. Natchez blooms from late June into September in USDA zones 7–9 and full sun. TN Nursery ships bare-root Natchez crape myrtle trees, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.
The U.S. National Arboretum introduced Natchez in 1978 from a cross of Lagerstroemia indica 'Pink Lace' and the Japanese crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia fauriei. It became one of the most widely planted crape myrtles in the South. Natchez is the largest white crape myrtle in common use, with pure white flower clusters that light up a summer evening and a trunk that looks good in every season.
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Botanical name: Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' (L. indica × L. fauriei), loosestrife family (Lythraceae)
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Also called: Natchez crape myrtle, Natchez white crepe myrtle, white crape myrtle
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Flower color: pure white, in ruffled 6- to 12-inch clusters
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Bloom time: late June into September, one of the longest bloom seasons of any crape myrtle
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Mature size: 20–30 feet tall and 15–20 feet wide or more, broad and spreading
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Bark: dark cinnamon-brown, peeling to reveal smooth, mottled trunks
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Fall color: orange to red
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What ships: bare-root trees in 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft and 3–4 ft sizes, as Buy 1 Get 1 Free, multi-tree bundles or 25-tree packs
How Big Does a Natchez Crape Myrtle Get?
A Natchez crape myrtle gets 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide or more at maturity, making it one of the tallest and broadest crape myrtles. Natchez forms a wide, vase-shaped crown on several strong trunks.
That size makes Natchez a true small shade tree. A row of Natchez crape myrtles can arch over a driveway or sidewalk, and a single Natchez can shade a patio by midsummer. Give each tree room: space Natchez crape myrtles 15 to 20 feet apart, and plant them at least 10 feet from buildings.
Why Is Natchez Crape Myrtle Bark So Popular?
Natchez crape myrtle bark is popular because it peels away in thin sheets to reveal smooth trunks in rich cinnamon, tan and cream, a display that many gardeners rank as the finest bark of any crape myrtle. The bark is the main reason Natchez stays beautiful all winter.
The color deepens as the trunks thicken, so a Natchez tree gets more striking with every year. To show off the bark, train a young tree to three or five evenly spaced trunks and remove the lowest side branches as the tree grows, lifting the canopy so the trunks are on display.
| Season |
Natchez crepe myrtle highlight |
| Spring |
Glossy new leaves on a clean, multi-trunk frame |
| Summer (late June–September) |
Pure white flower clusters |
| Fall |
Orange to red leaves |
| Winter |
Cinnamon-brown peeling bark |
Natchez, Muskogee or Pink: Which Crepe Myrtle Fits Your Yard?
Choose Natchez for white flowers and the largest size, Muskogee for soft lavender flowers on a 20- to 25-foot tree, and pink crepe myrtle for classic pink summer blooms on a tree typically 15 to 25 feet tall. All three are hardy in zones 7–9.
Pairing two colors makes a crape myrtle planting even more memorable: white Natchez between lavender Muskogee crepe myrtle or classic pink crepe myrtle lets each color stand out. Want to mix four colors in one order? Our crepe myrtle tree page offers Natchez White, Muskogee Lavender, Tuscarora Pink and Dynamite Red.
Where Should You Plant a Natchez Crepe Myrtle?
Plant a Natchez crepe myrtle in full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct light a day, in well-drained clay, loam or sandy soil. Natchez is heat loving and drought tolerant once established, and full sun brings the heaviest bloom.
White flowers glow against dark green, so set Natchez in front of evergreens. A screen of Green Giant arborvitae or a southern magnolia makes a deep green backdrop, and Wintergreen boxwood edges the bed in front. For summer color at the base, add rose mallow and black-eyed Susan. Browse all colors in our crepe myrtle trees collection, or see more flowering trees.
How Do You Plant and Prune a Bare-Root Natchez Crape Myrtle?
Plant a bare-root Natchez crape myrtle while it is dormant, from November through April, with the root collar at soil level, and prune it in late winter, January through March, removing only crossing branches and shoots at the base. Natchez blooms on new growth, so its natural form flowers freely without heavy cutting.
At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, Natchez crape myrtles are lifted from the field in winter, root-wrapped to stay moist in transit, and shipped as dormant young trees that settle in fast.
- Choose a sunny spot at least 10 feet from the house and 15 to 20 feet from other trees.
- Rehydrate the roots in a bucket of water for a few hours before planting.
- Open a wide, shallow hole and fan the roots out so the root collar sits at ground level.
- Refill with the soil you removed, press it down lightly and soak the area with water.
- Top the root zone with a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch, pulled back from the trunks.
- Give the tree a deep weekly drink through its first summer.
Planting & Growing Information
Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' (L. indica 'Pink Lace' × L. fauriei)
Plant Family: Lythraceae, the loosestrife family
Ships: Bare root, 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft or 3–4 ft
Planting Zone: 7–9
Height at Maturity: 20–30 feet
Spread: 15–20 feet or more
Spacing: 15–20 feet apart
Sun or Shade: Full sun, 6+ hours daily
Water Needs: Weekly deep watering in year one, then drought tolerant
Soil: Well-drained clay, loam or sand
Bloom Season: Late June–September
Flower Color: Pure white
Bark: Cinnamon-brown, peeling
Fall Color: Orange to red
Origin: U.S. National Arboretum hybrid, introduced 1978
Care: Prune in late winter, January through March, removing crossing branches and base shoots. Water weekly the first summer.
Plant Attributes: Long white summer bloom, cinnamon bark, large tree form, fall color, heat and drought tolerant
Natchez Crepe Myrtle FAQ
How tall do Natchez crape myrtles grow?
Natchez crape myrtles grow 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide or more, with a broad, multi-trunk canopy.
How fast does a Natchez crape myrtle grow?
A Natchez crape myrtle grows at a moderate to fast rate, often 1 to 3 feet per year in full sun once established.
When does Natchez crepe myrtle bloom?
Natchez crepe myrtle blooms from late June into September, giving one of the longest flowering seasons of any crape myrtle.
How far apart should you plant Natchez crape myrtles?
Plant Natchez crape myrtles 15 to 20 feet apart, and at least 10 feet from a house, driveway or walk.
When should you prune a Natchez crepe myrtle?
Prune a Natchez crepe myrtle in late winter, from January through March, before new growth begins, removing crossing branches and shoots at the base.
Are Natchez crepe myrtles cold hardy?
Yes. Natchez crepe myrtles are cold hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9 and return with fresh growth and flowers each summer.
Grown and Shipped by TN Nursery
TN Nursery has grown hardy plants since 1959, more than 65 years of experience, and has supplied plants to major U.S. landmarks like the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we dig and pack Natchez crape myrtles bare root during the dormant season and ship them to sunny landscapes from Virginia to Texas and California. Want to learn more first? Read How to Grow Natchez Crepe Myrtle, Natchez Crepe Myrtles and The Mesmerizing World of Crepe Myrtles on our garden blog.
