Crepe myrtles, cherished for their vibrant summer blooms and attractive bark, serve as a focal point in many gardens. Companion planting enhances their beauty and promotes a healthier growing environment. Strategically placing other plants nearby creates a harmonious landscape that benefits all elements, adding interest and functionality.
What Crepe Myrtles Need
Crepe myrtles thrive in specific conditions that companion plants must tolerate. They require full sun exposure, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, which is essential for abundant flowering. Insufficient light can lead to fewer blooms.
Regarding soil, crepe myrtles are adaptable but perform best in well-draining conditions to prevent root rot. While they tolerate various soil types, including clay and loam, a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.0-6.5) is preferred. Avoiding overly rich soil is advisable, as it can promote more foliage growth than flowers.
Mature crepe myrtles exhibit drought tolerance once their root systems are well-established. Newly planted specimens need consistent moisture during their first growing season to develop strong roots. Established trees benefit from deep, infrequent watering during prolonged dry spells to support vibrant blooms and foliage.
Why Use Companion Plants
Integrating companion plants offers advantages beyond aesthetics. These plants significantly enhance visual appeal, introducing complementary colors, textures, and forms that extend interest beyond the crepe myrtle’s blooming season.
Companion planting also provides practical benefits, such as weed suppression. Dense foliage or ground-covering plants shade the soil, inhibiting weed seed germination and competing for resources. This natural weed control reduces the need for manual weeding or herbicides, contributing to a sustainable garden. Additionally, these plants conserve soil moisture by acting as a living mulch, reducing evaporation and improving water retention.
Another benefit is attracting beneficial insects, including pollinators and natural pest predators. Many flowering companion plants draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, supporting garden health and biodiversity. Certain plants deter common garden pests through strong scents or by attracting predatory insects, offering a natural pest management strategy.
Choosing Your Companion Plants
Selecting appropriate companion plants involves identifying species that share the crepe myrtle’s preference for full sun and well-drained soil. Consider the mature size and growth habits of chosen companions to avoid competition, particularly with the crepe myrtle’s shallow root system.
Perennials
Perennials offer long-lasting beauty and structure, returning year after year.
Coneflowers (Echinacea) are sun-loving choices, providing large, daisy-like blooms that contrast with the crepe myrtle’s finer textures and attract pollinators.
Salvia species, known for their tall, spiky blue or purple flowers, are heat and drought-tolerant, drawing in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Daylilies are a robust option, offering a variety of colors and acting as an effective ground cover, producing flowers across multiple seasons.
Fragrant lavender provides appealing purple blooms, deters certain pests, and attracts pollinators.
Ornamental grasses, such as Fountain Grass (Pennisetum spp.), contribute textural interest and architectural form, complementing the stately appearance of crepe myrtles.
Shrubs
Smaller shrubs add structure and a layered effect without overwhelming the crepe myrtle. Dwarf varieties of Hydrangea paniculata are suitable, tolerating full sun and providing substantial floral displays. Their bloom times extend the garden’s interest beyond the crepe myrtle’s peak. Spiraea, a flowering shrub, offers an impressive floral show and thrives in similar sunny conditions. Compact boxwoods provide year-round structure and evergreen foliage, creating an elegant, formal appearance that highlights the crepe myrtle’s seasonal changes.
Groundcovers
Groundcovers are effective for weed suppression and moisture retention while adding visual appeal at the base of the crepe myrtle. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) offers a carpet of vibrant spring blooms, filling empty spaces and preventing weeds. Sedum varieties, with succulent foliage and diverse forms, are drought-tolerant and sun-loving choices for ground coverage. Liriope (Liriope spicata) is a versatile grass-like groundcover that tolerates full sun, suppresses weeds, and adds fine texture.
Annuals
Annuals provide seasonal bursts of color and flexibility, allowing for changes in the garden design each year.
Marigolds are popular for their cheerful blooms, deterring pests like nematodes and whiteflies, and attracting beneficial insects.
Zinnias are an excellent choice for their bright, long-lasting flowers, attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Petunias offer vigorous growth and a wide array of colors, filling spaces with continuous blooms.
Sun-tolerant Coleus varieties provide rich color and texture, creating a striking contrast with the crepe myrtle’s form.
Planting and Ongoing Care
Careful planning and ongoing maintenance ensure successful integration of companion plants with crepe myrtles. When planting, consider the mature size of both the crepe myrtle and its companions to allow for adequate spacing, preventing overcrowding and resource competition. It is advisable to avoid planting any new additions closer than 12 to 15 inches from the crepe myrtle’s trunk due to its shallow root system.
Proper soil preparation is important; incorporating organic matter like compost improves soil structure and drainage. Avoid over-fertilizing, as crepe myrtles do not require heavy feeding, and excessive nutrients promote foliage at the expense of blooms for both the tree and its companions.
Initial watering is important for newly planted companions to establish strong root systems. Once established, these plants share the water needs of the crepe myrtle, especially if similarly drought-tolerant. General maintenance, such as occasional deadheading of spent blooms, maintains their appearance and encourages further flowering. Applying a 4 to 6-inch layer of mulch around the plants, keeping it a few inches away from trunks and stems, retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds.