Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Miniature Crape Myrtle Looks Great In Any Garden

By Chasity Sheppard


Early in the summer, or a little bit later, depending on the variety, Crape Myrtles come to blossom. Their attractive flowers will decorate your garden throughout the season. Although Myrtles are usually fast growing, large shrubs and trees, miniature Crape Myrtle varieties are suitable for smaller gardens and even for terraces.

Large Myrtles can be maybe twelve feet high, and these little cousins are equally luxurious, but much smaller. Dwarf sized Myrtles will reach up to four feet, and miniatures not even that. Most of them are between one and three feet high. Just like their larger cousins, they are available in different colors and types, with different growth habits.

Here are some of the most popular miniature sized plants. Chickasaw has very nice, delicate pink flowers. It grows one to two feet high, and it is especially interesting thanks to its very good resistance to any weather conditions, including very dry climates. It has a tight growth habit and it is quite popular lately.

One of the most popular weeping varieties is certainly Delta Blush. Long lasting flowers are luxuriously light pink, what makes it a very attractive showcase plant. Thanks to its size and beauty, this plant is welcome in any garden or terrace, and it is more than suitable for container growing. Very high insect resistance.

Pocomoke variety comes in the late summer, bringing its hot pink flowers, following another beautiful variety suited for planting in a pot, highly popular Weeping Alamo Fire. Its beautiful, surprisingly red flowers will appear in the mid summer, hundreds of them at once, transforming your garden with their beauty.

New Orleans Weeping will grow up to three feet, and it will add a hint of purple to your garden. If you prefer watermelon red instead, choose World's Fair Weeping. With an average height of two to three feet, this lovely little plant will really add some spirit to any terrace, garden or patio.

Most minis have fair to good mildew resistance. They are suitable for even the smallest gardens, but also for container gardening, and some varieties work very well as ground cover as well. Rosy Carpet is among the smallest ones, especially suitable for this purpose. It has lovely pink flowers that look very attractive.

During the growing season, you should fertilize your plants regularly, maybe twice a week. The best mixtures are water soluble ones. Most Myrtles can survive low temperatures, if planted in the ground. Potted plants should be protected if it gets too cold outside. These plants are resistant to most insects, except maybe aphids. They don't have serious problems with any plant diseases.

Miniature Crape Myrtle will be wonderful addition to any garden. This lovely plant doesn't require too much attention, and it gives so much. It grows best in full hot sun, although it will do well in 50 percent shade as well. It should be planted in any type of a soil. You need to give it enough water, if it grows in a container, or when you live in especially dry desert climate zone.




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