Description
Lagerstroemia indica 'Pink Velour' standard tree 90 cm C15 | Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle standard is the elegant standard-trained form of Lagerstroemia indica 'Pink Velour', also known locally as Crepe Myrtle or Indian Lilac. This shrub is naturally upright and bushy, but this product is trained with a clear stem and raised crown. The result is a graceful, structured silhouette that is very different from the lower, fuller outline of a naturally grown shrub. It can reach approximately 300 cm at maturity. The rich pink flowers are the main summer feature, while the green leaves provide a fresh background during the growing season and develop decorative autumn colour later in the year. This is a deciduous shrub with broad leaves, so it is not evergreen. The standard form gives the plant extra height and makes the crown easy to appreciate in a pot, on a patio or in a sheltered sunny part of the garden. It can produce fruit, although its value here is mainly ornamental. For UK gardens, choose a protected position, as frost-sensitive plants can be affected by exposed winter conditions and wet weather. It is not presented as a low-maintenance plant, but as an ornamental shrub that performs best when its site is chosen with care. As part of the lagerstroemia genus, it offers a distinctive combination of flowering, foliage and formal structure.
Key features of Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Pink Velour')
- Showy summer flowering: The plant produces very showy and abundant pink flowers from July to September. This long flowering period gives the raised crown strong seasonal interest, especially in a sunny position.
- Deciduous foliage and autumn colour: The foliage is green and deciduous, with no claim of evergreen growth. Decorative autumn colour adds a further seasonal feature before the leaves fall.
- Sun, shelter and soil: Full sun is preferred, ideally in a warm, sheltered position. Use fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil with an open structure. Avoid poorly drained or waterlogged ground, as free drainage is important in the UK’s often wet conditions.
- Standard growth habit: The plant is upright and bushy by nature, but this individual is trained as a standard. Its clear stem and elevated crown create a more formal accent than a low, naturally bushy shrub. It is also suitable for a pot, terrace or patio where drainage and shelter can be managed, making it a useful choice among container plants.
Uses of Crape Myrtle standard in the garden
- Solitary accent: Use this Crape Myrtle standard as a solitary feature in a pot, on a terrace or patio, or in a sunny, sheltered garden position. The raised crown gives the plant a clear presence without the same ground-level spread as a naturally bushy shrub.
- Structure and height: The clear stem and elevated crown add vertical structure to a patio, terrace or smaller garden composition. This creates a refined focal point while keeping the flowering display raised above the surrounding planting.
- Winter position: The supplied hardiness range is approximately -17.8°C to -12.2°C, corresponding to USDA zones 7 to 9. However, the plant is frost-sensitive, so shelter remains important in the UK, where winter temperatures and exposure can vary.
- Plant combinations: Combine it with complementary ornamental plants that enjoy full sun and well-drained soil. Other ornamental shrubs, patio plants and container plants with similar light and drainage requirements can support the composition while allowing the standard to remain the main focal point.
- Seasonal ornamental value: Its main appeal comes from the combination of abundant pink summer flowers, green deciduous foliage, decorative autumn colour and the elevated crown. This gives one plant several points of seasonal interest without losing its formal outline.
This Crape Myrtle standard is especially suited to a sunny, sheltered patio, terrace or garden position. Its raised crown adds height and elegance, while the rich pink summer flowering provides a clear ornamental feature that can be appreciated throughout the warmer months.
