Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Pink Crape Myrtle
Pink Crape Myrtle is a small flowering tree that fills its branch tips with pink flower clusters through the summer. It is grown as a single or multi-trunk tree about 15 to 20 feet tall. The leaves turn orange and red in fall, and in winter the bare trunks show smooth, peeling bark. Plant it as a patio tree, near the entry or in a group.
Best for: pink summer color near a patio or entry, a small shade tree in the watered part of the yard, and groups of flowering trees.
Pink flower clusters open at the branch tips through the hot months. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers. Trim off spent clusters and it can bloom again.
It is commonly used as a patio tree or a specimen by the front entry. Grown with several trunks, it shows off the smooth, peeling bark once the leaves drop in winter.
Space crape myrtles about 8 to 12 feet apart for a row or a group. Keep them together in a watered bed, since they need more water than desert trees.
It grows poorly in sandy soil and in dry gravel beds. Hot west walls and reflected heat can brown the leaf edges in late summer. Alkaline soil can turn new leaves yellow.
- Row or grouping8-12 ft apart
- Stand-alone tree12+ ft apart
For the first two weeks, water every 1 to 2 days in summer or every 3 to 4 days in cool months. Ease to about once a week in summer by the second month. Keep soaking it deeply for about 3 years.
Soak it 2 to 3 feet deep every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and every 2 to 4 weeks in winter. Water at the edge of the canopy, not against the trunk.
Clip off old seed pods, dried blooms and suckers in late winter. Remove dead or crossing branches. Skip hard topping, and never take more than a quarter of the canopy in one year.
If new leaves yellow between green veins, apply an iron product made for alkaline soil in spring. Repeat when the yellow returns.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Pink Crape Myrtle get?
Crape myrtle size depends on the variety, from dwarf shrubs to trees 30 feet tall. Tree forms like this one commonly reach about 15 to 20 feet tall and up to about 15 feet wide, so leave room overhead.
When does it bloom?
It blooms from about June through September in the Valley, because crape myrtle needs summer heat to flower well. Snip off spent flower clusters to get another round.
How much water does it need?
It needs regular water, more than a desert tree. Once rooted, soak it 2 to 3 feet deep every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and every 2 to 4 weeks in winter.
Can it take full sun in Phoenix?
Yes, full sun gives the most flowers. Avoid hot west walls and strong reflected heat, which scorch the leaves in mid to late summer.
What soil does crape myrtle like?
Clay loam suits it best, and it grows poorly in sandy soil. Backfill with your native soil and make sure water drains.
Why are my crape myrtle leaves yellow?
Yellow new leaves with green veins mean iron trouble in alkaline soil. Apply an iron product made for alkaline soil in spring, and repeat if needed.
When and how should I prune it?
Prune in late winter while it is bare. Clip off old seed pods, suckers and dead or crossing branches. Do not top it, because hard topping, often called crape murder, ruins the shape.
What is the white powder on the leaves?
The white powder is powdery mildew, which is worst in shade and still air. Plant it in full sun with room around it so air moves through the leaves.
What pests does it get?
Aphids are the most common, and their honeydew can turn leaves black with sooty mold. Spray them off with water or use insecticidal soap.
Does it lose its leaves in winter?
Yes. The leaves turn orange and red in fall and drop, and the tree leafs out again in spring. It is hardy to about 0°F, so Valley winters do not hurt it.
Is crape myrtle safe for pets?
Crape myrtle is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, so no special steps are needed around pets.
Pink Crape Myrtle for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Pink Crape Myrtle is a classic summer flowering tree for Valley yards, with pink blooms from about June into September. It also brings orange and red fall leaves and smooth, peeling bark in winter. Below is what to expect: size, water, sun, spacing, pruning, yellow leaves, and how it handles Phoenix heat.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Does crape myrtle grow in Phoenix?
Yes. Crape myrtle is hardy in Phoenix and blooms through the summer heat. It needs regular water and a spot away from hot west walls and reflected heat.
How tall does a pink crape myrtle tree get?
Size depends on the variety. Tree forms commonly grow about 15 to 20 feet tall with up to about 15 feet of spread, at a moderate pace.
When do crape myrtles bloom in Arizona?
Crape myrtles bloom from about June through September in the Valley. Removing spent flower clusters can bring a second round of bloom.
How far apart should crape myrtles be planted?
Plant crape myrtles about 8 to 12 feet apart, center to center, for a row or group. A stand-alone tree gets 12 feet or more to its neighbor. Use the spacing calculator to plan a longer row.
How often should I water my crape myrtle?
Once it is rooted, soak it every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and every 2 to 4 weeks in winter, 2 to 3 feet deep. New trees need water much more often for the first weeks.
When do you prune crape myrtles in Arizona?
Prune in late winter, while the tree is bare. Remove seed pods, suckers and crossing branches, and avoid topping the trunks, which ruins the shape.
Why is my crape myrtle turning yellow in Arizona?
Alkaline Valley soil makes it hard for crape myrtle to take up iron, so new leaves yellow between the veins. An iron product for alkaline soil, applied in spring, is the usual fix.
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