The Pecos Crepe Myrtle is a popular plant that adds vibrant color and structure to various landscapes. Its long period of summer blooms and attractive year-round features make it a favored choice for gardeners seeking drought tolerance in their outdoor spaces. This deciduous shrub or small tree offers a dynamic display, transitioning through seasons with different visual interests.
Distinctive Features of Pecos Crepe Myrtle
The Pecos Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia x ‘Pecos’) is known for its unique characteristics. This variety reaches a mature height of 8 to 12 feet and spreads 6 to 10 feet, forming a rounded habit. Its moderate growth rate allows it to establish well.
The plant’s most striking feature is its profusion of light baby pink to clear pink flowers, which appear in large clusters from mid-summer through autumn. These crinkled, crepe-paper-like blooms create a continuous display of color. Beyond its flowers, the Pecos Crepe Myrtle offers year-round visual interest with its exfoliating bark, which peels away to reveal smooth, multi-colored layers of tan, beige, and gray. The foliage also contributes to its appeal, emerging red in spring, transitioning to dark green with a reddish tint, and then transforming into stunning shades of orange, red, or purple in the fall.
Planting and Site Selection
Proper planting and site selection are fundamental for healthy establishment and vibrant growth. These plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to produce abundant blooms. Insufficient sunlight can lead to reduced flowering.
The Pecos Crepe Myrtle adapts to a wide range of soil types, including clay, sand, acidic, or loam, provided the soil is well-draining. While it tolerates slightly alkaline conditions, a soil pH between 5.0 and 6.5 is preferred. When planting, dig a hole three times wider than the root ball but only as deep as the root ball itself, ensuring the top roots are at the soil line to prevent planting too deep. After placing the plant, backfill with the removed soil and gently pack it down, then water thoroughly to settle the soil. Creating a small soil berm around the planting area can help retain water for initial establishment.
Essential Care Practices
Ongoing care practices are important for maintaining the health and prolific blooming of Pecos Crepe Myrtle. During its first two growing seasons, consistent and deep watering is necessary, once or twice a week, to encourage a robust root system. Once established, the plant becomes drought-tolerant but benefits from deep, infrequent watering during prolonged dry spells. Watering at the base of the plant is recommended to avoid wetting the foliage, which helps prevent fungal issues.
Fertilization supports vigorous growth and flowering; a balanced fertilizer, such as a 5-10-5, can be applied in early spring before new growth emerges. After the first year, annual fertilization in early spring is sufficient, as over-fertilization can promote leaf growth at the expense of blooms.
Pruning, performed in late winter or early spring while the plant is dormant, helps maintain the plant’s natural form and promotes strong branches capable of supporting flowers. Pruning involves removing dead, damaged, or diseased branches, thinning out crossing or rubbing branches, and removing suckers that emerge from the base. Avoiding severe heading back, often termed “crepe murder,” can disfigure the tree and lead to weak, spindly new growth. Instead, reduce height by cutting back to a side branch or bud, or to a crotch or trunk for thicker branches.
Common Challenges and Solutions
While robust, Pecos Crepe Myrtles can encounter a few common challenges. Powdery mildew, a fungal disease, appears as white to grayish powdery patches on leaves, flowers, and new shoots, thriving in shady, damp conditions with poor air circulation. Planting in full sun and ensuring good air movement are preventative measures.
Another fungal issue is Cercospora leaf spot, characterized by yellow or reddish spots on leaves, often leading to premature leaf drop. This disease occurs during warm, moist weather. Ensuring proper air circulation and avoiding overhead watering can help reduce its incidence.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap, causing yellow spots on leaves and excreting a sticky substance called honeydew. Honeydew can then lead to the growth of sooty mold, a black fungus that covers leaves and diminishes the plant’s appearance. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil can address aphid infestations.