Crepe Myrtle Growth Rate – Do All Varieties Grow Fast?
Bashams Party Pink is the fastest growing myrtle, but others are not far behind
Prized for their beautifully colored flowers, Crepe Myrtles are commonly cultivated deciduous plants that have a moderately high rate of growth. On average, The Common Crepe Myrtles that are primarily found in Southern U.S.A grow about 12-24 inches per year.
But how fast do crepe myrtles grow, is decided by their variety. Most types of crepe myrtles have a growth rate of more than 2 feet per year.
Crepe Myrtles have different growth rates and maximum attainable heights and widths, the average height Crepe Myrtles can achieve is about 25 to 30 feet with a 6 to 15 feet wide canopy.
Crepe Myrtle Growth Rate
Crepe Myrtles have several varieties, and each variety has its individual growth rate. But, most Crepe Myrtles have a rapid growth rate with an average growth rate of 24+ inches per year until they reach maturity.
Myrtle Variety | Growth Rate |
Natchez crape myrtle growth rate | 24+ inches per year |
Red rocket crape myrtle growth rate | 48 to 60 inches per year |
Catawba crape myrtle growth rate | 24 to 36 inches per year |
Arapaho crape myrtle growth rate | 12 to 24 inches per year |
Black diamond crepe myrtle | 24 to 48 inches per year |
Tuscarora crape myrtle growth rate | 24 to 36 inches per year |
Muskogee crape myrtle growth rate | 24 to 60 inches per year |
Purple magic crape myrtle growth rate | 24+ inches per year |
Midnight magic crape myrtle growth rate | 6 to 12 inches per year |
Pink velour crape myrtle growth rate | 13 to 24 inches per year |
Sioux crape myrtle growth rate | 13 to 24 inches per year |
Miss Frances crepe myrtle | 13 to 24 inches per year |
Tonto crepe myrtle | 13 to 24 inches per year |
They are highly low-maintenance plants that grow on almost all soil types with good drainage and slightly acidic pH. Crepe
Myrtles require total exposure to sunlight, and a dry climate and need to be watered occasionally once they have been planted. Temperature and environmental factors sometimes affect the growth rate of these plants.
How Fast Do Crepe Myrtle Bushes Grow?
Crepe Myrtle bushes comprise dwarf varieties of Crepe Myrtle trees. These shrubs have an average rapid growth rate and grow about 24 inches yearly till they become 4 to 6 feet tall at maturity.
Which Crepe Myrtle Is The Fastest Growing?
Basham’s Party Pink is the fastest-growing Crepe Myrtle variety with an average growth rate of 8 feet per year. It is not unusual for the plant to even grow at a rate of 12 to 15 feet per year. This tree typically grows up to a height of 25 feet and has a 20 feet wide canopy on average.
Other standard crepe myrtle varieties like the Red Rocket Crepe Myrtles also have a rapid growth rate of about 5 feet per year.
How To Get Crepe Myrtles To Grow Faster?
By now you can successfully answer ‘how fast do crepe myrtles grow?’ But did you know that it is possible to enhance the Crepe Myrtles growth rate? If you take proper care of a Crepe Myrtle plant, it will not only grow faster but also will live longer and look healthier.
But for that, you need to know how to take care of this particular deciduous variety of trees properly. Adhere to the steps below and watch your Crepe Myrtles shoot up faster than ever!
1. Exposure to Sunlight: Providing a Crepe Myrtle exposure to sunlight for at least 6 hours a day is a must, especially during its growing stages.
2. Adequate amount of water: Watering your Crepe Myrtle is essential but be careful to put just the right amount. Too much water can lead to the root decay of the plants, especially if the soil does not have good drainage. Watering the plant three times a week on average is advisable.
3. Soil with proper drainage: The soil in which you are growing your Crepe Myrtle should be dry, sandy but should have proper drainage if you want to ensure a healthy crepe myrtle tree growth rate. Crepe Myrtles can survive in Clayey and Loamy soil as well, but the growth would not be as quick.
4. Tilling the soil: Till the soil where you wish to plant the tree and remove any other plant growing near it. Aerate the ground to improve drainage by digging it superficially and loosening it up.
5. Organic fertilizers: It is imperative to use fertilizers to make the plant healthy and the soil more fertile. Adding organic fertilizers like natural vegetable compost and manure is always preferred over adding chemical fertilizers which might affect the soil negatively.
6. Planting time: If you live in a tropical region, plant your Crepe Myrtle in the later months of the year. The fall and winter seasons are preferred because the weather remains dry during that time. If you live in a colder country where the ground freezes during winter, plant the trees during springtime.
7. Pruning: Regular and careful pruning of the dead and decaying branches and leaves is instrumental to the fast growth of a Crepe Myrtle plant.
How Many Years Does It Take for Crepe Myrtle To Bloom?
Crepe Myrtle tree growth rates, in general, are very high. They are a rapidly growing plant species. On average, it takes 3 to 5 years for a Crepe Myrtle to bloom and produce beautiful ornamental flowers, though the time taken to bloom often differs from plant to plant.
The plants are extremely colorful and gorgeous to look at once they have bloomed, and that is why several landscape designers and gardeners prefer to grow Crepe Myrtles to design their gardens and parks.
After the Crepe Myrtle plant blooms, it takes about 5 to 10 years for the plant mature fully and attains its maximum height and width. Once these plants are fully mature, they will add a bright splash of color to your garden by blossoming every year.
How Big Do Crepe Myrtles Get?
Crepe Myrtles have several varieties. Therefore, the answer to how big or how fast do Crepe Myrtle trees grow is unique to each variety.
These plants can grow to various heights and widths. For instance, one of the largest and commercially available Crepe Myrtle varieties, known as ‘The Muskogee Crepe Myrtle,’ can reach a height of 35 feet with a bushy, crown-like canopy spreading up to 15 feet in diameter.
Whereas the kind of Crepe Myrtles that are inherently smaller (i.e., the dwarf varieties like ‘Cherry Dazzle’ and ‘Chica Pink’), usually grow to attain a height of about 4 to 7 feet.
Generally, standard Crepe Myrtles can reach a height of 25 to 30 feet on maturity, with their canopies stretching up to 20 feet on average. The best thing about Crepe Myrtles is that they achieve their maximum height quite quickly owing to the rapid Crepe Myrtle growth rate.
Crepe myrtles get dormant in winters and have the ability to survive harsh and dry weather conditions.
How Long Do Crape Myrtles Live?
Crepe Myrtles have a lifespan of around 25 to 50 years on average. However, this may vary greatly due to weather conditions, soil conditions, and the addition of fertilizers. If you can adequately care for a Crepe Myrtle plant, it will surely live longer.
Some Crepe Myrtles are also known to survive for about 100 years and more (although that is extremely rare). The oldest Crepe Myrtle found in Italy has survived over 132 years!
Regular pruning of dead and decaying branches and leaves, providing just the right amount of water, and adding fertilizers can significantly increase the lifespan of Crepe Myrtles. At the same time crepe myrtle issues like improper care, pests, and plant infections can drastically reduce the lifespan of these plants.
Conclusion
Here’s to conclude how fast do Crepe Myrtle trees grow – we can rightfully say that Crepe Myrtles have a moderately high growth rate. They usually grow up to a height of about 25 to 30 feet, making them ideal to be used as decorative plants in backyards and gardens.