Pink Crepe Myrtle Tree

Pink Crepe Myrtle Tree: Classic Crape Myrtle With Pink Summer Blooms

Pink crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a flowering tree with ruffled pink flower clusters from July to September and smooth, peeling bark. Pink crepe myrtles typically grow 15 to 25 feet tall and 6 to 15 feet wide in USDA zones 7–9 and full sun. TN Nursery ships bare-root pink crepe myrtle trees, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

Pink crepe myrtle is a form of the common crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, a member of the loosestrife family, Lythraceae. The species comes from China and Korea and has been a Southern garden favorite for more than two centuries, earning the nickname "lilac of the South." Pink is one of the most popular crape myrtle colors, bringing months of cheerful summer color to front yards, patios and streetscapes.

• Botanical name: Lagerstroemia indica, loosestrife family (Lythraceae)
• Also called: pink crape myrtle, crape myrtle, crepe myrtle, lilac of the South
• Flower color: pink, in 6- to 12-inch ruffled clusters
• Bloom time: July to September
• Mature size: typically 15–25 feet tall and 6–15 feet wide, upright and vase-shaped
• Bark: smooth and peeling, in mottled shades of gray, tan and cinnamon
• Fall color: yellow, orange or red
• What ships: bare-root trees in 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft and 3–4 ft sizes, as Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Buy 3 Get 2 Free or 25-tree wholesale bundles

What Color Is a Pink Crepe Myrtle?

A pink crepe myrtle blooms in clear, cheerful shades of pink that stand out from across the yard. The ruffled flower clusters glow against glossy dark green leaves and the tree's smooth, mottled trunks.

Each cluster holds dozens of crinkled, crepe-paper petals, the feature that gives crepe myrtle its name. New clusters keep opening at the branch tips for weeks in mid to late summer, so a pink crepe myrtle stays in color from July to September. Bees and butterflies visit the open flowers, and the bright pink makes the tree one of the most eye-catching choices for a sunny front yard.

What Does a Pink Crepe Myrtle Look Like Through the Year?

A pink crepe myrtle offers interest in every season: fresh green leaves in spring, pink flowers in summer, warm leaf color in fall and smooth, sculptural bark in winter.

How Big Does a Pink Crepe Myrtle Get?

A pink crepe myrtle typically gets 15 to 25 feet tall and 6 to 15 feet wide as a multi-trunk tree, with an upright, vase-shaped canopy. Pink crepe myrtles grow fast in full sun, often 1 to 2 feet per year once established.

The upright form fits small yards well. Plant a pink crepe myrtle at the corner of a house, along a side yard or beside a driveway. Space pink crepe myrtles 8 to 10 feet apart for a flowering screen, or 12 to 15 feet apart for a row of individual trees, and keep them 6 to 8 feet from walls and walks.

Where Should You Plant a Pink Crepe Myrtle?

Plant a pink crepe myrtle in full sun, with 6 to 8 hours of direct light each day, in well-drained clay, loam or sandy soil. Full sun brings the heaviest bloom and the richest pink color.

A pink crepe myrtle looks its best with plants that frame the color. A low hedge of Green Velvet boxwood gives a crisp evergreen edge, while Shasta daisy and black-eyed Susan bloom beneath it at the same time. Blazing star adds purple spikes that echo the pink. For a two-color crape myrtle planting, alternate pink crepe myrtle with the pure white Natchez crepe myrtle. Soft lavender Muskogee crepe myrtle makes an equally lovely partner. More crepe myrtle colors, including red, white, lavender and Tuscarora pink, are available on our crepe myrtle tree page. See every color in our crepe myrtle trees collection, or browse our flowering trees.

How Do You Plant and Prune a Bare-Root Pink Crepe Myrtle?

Plant a bare-root pink crepe 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. Pink crepe myrtle blooms on new growth, so late-winter pruning sets up a full summer of flowers.

At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we dig pink crepe myrtles while dormant and pack the roots in moist material. Each tree arrives leafless and ready to plant.

1. Soak the roots in water for 2 to 4 hours.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root spread and as deep as the roots.
3. Set the root collar level with the ground and spread the roots out.
4. Backfill with native soil, firm gently and water deeply.
5. Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch, keeping it 3 inches from the stems.
6. Each late winter, remove crossing branches and shoots at the base to show off the smooth, peeling trunks.

Planting & Growing Information

Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia indica
Plant Family: Lythraceae (loosestrife family)
Ships: Bare root, 1–2 ft, 2–3 ft or 3–4 ft
Planting Zone: 7–9
Height at Maturity: Typically 15–25 feet
Spread: 6–15 feet
Growth Rate: Fast, 1–2 feet per year
Sun or Shade: Full sun, 6–8 hours daily
Water Needs: Moderate the first summer; drought tolerant once established
Soil: Well-drained clay, loam or sand
Bloom Season: Summer, July–September
Flower Color: Pink
Bark: Smooth, peeling, mottled gray, tan and cinnamon
Origin: China and Korea
Care: Prune in late winter, January through March. Water weekly the first summer.
Plant Attributes: Pink summer blooms, upright vase shape, smooth peeling bark, colorful fall leaves, pollinator friendly

Pink Crepe Myrtle FAQ

When does a pink crepe myrtle bloom?

A pink crepe myrtle blooms from July to September, with new flower clusters opening at the branch tips through late summer.

What zones do pink crepe myrtles grow in?

Pink crepe myrtles grow in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 9.

How fast does a pink crepe myrtle grow?

A pink crepe myrtle grows fast, often 1 to 2 feet per year in full sun once the roots are established.

Is a pink crepe myrtle a tree or a shrub?

A pink crepe myrtle grows into a small multi-trunk tree, typically 15 to 25 feet tall, and can also be kept as a large flowering shrub with regular late-winter pruning.

Is crepe myrtle the same as crape myrtle?

Yes. Crepe myrtle and crape myrtle are two spellings of the same plant, Lagerstroemia, and both names refer to the crinkled, crepe-paper texture of the flowers.

Do deer eat pink crepe myrtle?

Deer rarely browse crepe myrtle, so a pink crepe myrtle usually stays full and flowering in yards that deer visit.

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 pink crepe myrtles bare root during the dormant season and ship them to sunny gardens across the South and beyond. Want to learn more first? Read Crepe Myrtle Care, Crepe Myrtle Pruning and Why Crepe Myrtle Trees Are a Must-Have for Your Garden on our garden blog.