Companion planting involves strategically placing different plant species together to foster mutual benefits within a garden ecosystem. This approach enhances the health and vibrancy of individual plants, including the popular crape myrtle. By carefully selecting plants that complement each other, gardeners can create a more resilient and visually appealing landscape, ensuring optimal growing conditions for all plants involved.
Benefits of Companion Planting for Crape Myrtles
Companion planting offers several advantages beyond aesthetics, contributing to a healthier garden environment around crape myrtles. Benefits include improved soil health, as certain plants can enhance nutrient availability or suppress weed growth, reducing competition for resources. Companion plants can also deter common pests, such as aphids, or attract beneficial insects that prey on them. Some plants even act as “trap crops,” diverting pests away from the crape myrtle. This natural pest control minimizes the need for chemical interventions, promoting a more balanced ecosystem. Additionally, diverse plants can extend the garden’s blooming season, providing continuous visual interest.
Essential Considerations for Selecting Companion Plants
Choosing companion plants for crape myrtles requires considering several environmental factors. Crape myrtles thrive in full sun, so companion plants should also tolerate or prefer full sun. As crape myrtles mature, their canopy can create some shade, making plants tolerant of partial shade suitable for underplanting.
Soil and water needs are also important. Crape myrtles prefer well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, typically between 5.0 and 7.0. They are drought-tolerant once established but benefit from consistent watering during their first growing season. Companion plants should ideally share these preferences for well-drained soil and moderate water after establishment. Selecting plants with different root structures can also help aerate the soil and allow plants to draw nutrients from various depths.
The mature size and growth habit of companion plants should prevent overcrowding and competition for light, water, and nutrients. Bloom time and color harmony are aesthetic considerations; selecting plants that bloom concurrently with crape myrtles (mid-summer to early fall) creates a cohesive display. Complementary colors enhance the visual impact of the crape myrtle’s flowers. Opting for disease and pest-resistant varieties further reduces maintenance and promotes garden health.
Recommended Companion Plants for Crape Myrtles
A variety of plants can serve as suitable companions for crape myrtles, enhancing the garden’s visual appeal while sharing similar growing needs. Selecting plants that thrive in full sun and well-drained soil is important for successful pairings.
Perennials
Perennials offer recurring beauty and low maintenance.
Salvia (Salvia spp.) provides tall spikes of purplish-blue flowers and prefers full sun.
Coneflowers (Echinacea) are heat tolerant and attract butterflies.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are low-maintenance, thrive in full sun, and offer a wide range of colors.
Lavender (Lavandula) is a fragrant option that enjoys full sun and well-drained soil, attracting beneficial insects.
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) provides long-lasting summer blooms and tolerates sun and less water.
Black-eyed Susans are reliable summer bloomers that thrive in sunny perennial gardens.
Shrubs
Shrubs add structure and complementary blooms. Boxwoods (Buxus) create a formal look and provide year-round interest with evergreen foliage. Limelight Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’) have a similar bloom schedule to many crape myrtles, with white blooms that brighten purple and red crape myrtle flowers. Spirea and Dogwood (Cornus kousa or Cornus florida) are also suggested for their impressive floral displays.
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses provide textural contrast and movement. Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora) offers feathery plumes from summer to autumn and grows well in sunny, well-drained locations. Other ornamental grasses and sedges can complement the crape myrtle’s form.
Groundcovers
Groundcovers suppress weeds and add a lush carpet of color.
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) forms a fragrant, low-growing mat with tiny pink and purple flowers, tolerating poor soil and drought.
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) offers chartreuse-green leaves and yellow bell-shaped flowers, spreading vigorously.
Dianthus is a low-maintenance ground cover that prefers full sun and well-drained soil, blooming from late spring to early summer.
Liriope (Liriope spicata), also known as creeping lilyturf, produces spear-shaped blossoms and tolerates full to partial sun.
Placement and Care Tips for Companion Plantings
Proper placement and ongoing care are important for successful companion plantings. When planting, dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball, but no deeper, allowing roots to spread easily. The top of the root ball should be level with the surrounding soil.
Adequate spacing prevents overcrowding, which can lead to competition for resources, reduced air circulation, and increased risk of fungal issues like powdery mildew. While crape myrtles are drought-tolerant once established, companion plants may require regular watering, especially during their first year. Deep watering at the base encourages strong root development and avoids wetting foliage, which contributes to fungal diseases.
Mulching around the base of the crape myrtle and its companions helps conserve soil moisture and regulate soil temperature. A 2 to 4-inch layer of mulch, kept a few inches from the trunk, is generally beneficial. Fertilizing crape myrtles is often not recommended as it can lead to more foliage than flowers; however, companion plants may benefit from a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring. Regular observation for pests or diseases on companion plants helps address issues early, maintaining the health of the entire planting.