The ‘Osage’ Crepe Myrtle, a cultivar of Lagerstroemia indica, offers aesthetic appeal and garden performance, making it a favored selection for its ornamental qualities and adaptability.
Distinctive Features of Osage Crepe Myrtle
The ‘Osage’ Crepe Myrtle offers unique physical attributes year-round. It matures to a height of 12 to 18 feet with a spread of 8 to 16 feet, forming a multi-stemmed, upright habit. This size suits various landscape applications, from specimen planting to use along property lines.
During summer, ‘Osage’ produces abundant panicles of flowers that range from light pink to a vibrant, peachy-watermelon pink. These frilly blooms emerge on new wood, creating a striking display that lasts for several weeks. The dark green leaves provide a lush backdrop for the summer blossoms.
Beyond its floral beauty, the ‘Osage’ Crepe Myrtle offers year-round appeal through its bark and fall foliage. The smooth, exfoliating bark peels away in thin layers, revealing mottled patterns of light and dark brown underneath. This provides winter interest, adding texture and color to the dormant landscape.
As autumn approaches, the green foliage transforms into shades of vibrant red, orange, and gold, contributing another season of visual spectacle. This dynamic change in leaf color enhances its ornamental value.
Planting Your Osage Crepe Myrtle
Successful establishment of an ‘Osage’ Crepe Myrtle requires careful site selection and proper planting. This cultivar thrives in full sun, ideally at least six to eight hours daily. Full sun promotes vigorous growth and abundant flowering.
The ‘Osage’ Crepe Myrtle adapts to a range of soil types, but performs best in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, between 5.5 and 7.0. Improving heavy clay soils with organic matter enhances drainage and aeration, promoting healthy root development. Avoid planting in areas where water tends to collect, as poor drainage is detrimental.
When planting, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than its current depth. This allows roots to spread easily into the surrounding loosened soil. Position the tree so the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding grade.
After placing the tree, backfill the hole with the excavated soil, gently tamping it down to remove any large air pockets. Water the newly planted ‘Osage’ thoroughly to help settle the soil around the roots. Consistent moisture during the first growing season is important for root establishment.
Ongoing Care for Osage Crepe Myrtle
Once established, the ‘Osage’ Crepe Myrtle is low-maintenance, though consistent care ensures its health and vibrant display. Watering needs vary, but established plants are drought-tolerant. During prolonged dry periods, especially in summer, deep, infrequent watering is beneficial.
Apply water at the base of the plant to ensure it reaches the root zone and to prevent foliar diseases. Newly planted trees require more frequent watering, two to three times per week, for their first growing season for root development. Reducing water in the fall prepares the plant for dormancy.
Fertilization supports vigorous growth and prolific blooming. In early spring, as new growth begins, apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer. Fertilizers with an NPK ratio such as 8-8-8, 10-10-10, or 16-4-8 are suitable, but avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes foliage growth at the expense of flowers. A soil test can provide specific recommendations for your garden’s needs.
Applying a 2 to 4-inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree offers advantages. Mulch retains soil moisture, moderates soil temperature fluctuations, and suppresses weed growth. Ensure the mulch does not touch the trunk to prevent moisture buildup and issues.
Pruning Osage Crepe Myrtle
Proper pruning of the ‘Osage’ Crepe Myrtle maintains its natural form, promotes air circulation, and encourages abundant flowering. Prune in late winter or early spring, before new growth emerges. This directs energy to new, bloom-bearing branches.
Pruning aims to shape the tree, remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches, and improve light penetration into the canopy. Focus on creating a strong, open structure, with three to five main trunks. Remove suckers that sprout from the base or roots to direct energy to the main plant.
Avoid severe cutting back of the main branches, often referred to as “crepe murder.” This practice weakens the tree, leads to unattractive knobs, and produces weak, spindly growth that may not support flowers. Instead, make cuts back to a side branch or to the main trunk, especially for branches thinner than a pencil’s width.
For mature trees, pruning involves thinning out inward-growing branches and lifting the canopy by removing lower limbs up to a height of four to six feet. This enhances the visibility of the attractive exfoliating bark. Consistent, light pruning over time is better than drastic, infrequent cuts.
Pest and Disease Resistance
An advantage of the ‘Osage’ Crepe Myrtle is its resistance to common pests and diseases that affect other Crepe Myrtle cultivars. This resistance reduces the need for chemical interventions, making it garden-friendly.
The ‘Osage’ cultivar resists powdery mildew, a fungal disease appearing as white, powdery patches on leaves, buds, and new shoots. This resistance is beneficial in humid environments where powdery mildew is prevalent. Selecting resistant varieties like ‘Osage’ ensures healthier foliage and more consistent blooming.
Additionally, ‘Osage’ resists aphids moderately. While aphids may occur, their presence is less severe compared to more susceptible varieties. This minimizes issues like sticky honeydew and the subsequent development of sooty mold, which detracts from the plant’s appearance.