Most crape myrtles bloom for 80 to 100 days in a season. 'Muskogee' has a 120-day bloom season. It is large, about 20 feet tall, and begins blooming in early May.

With such a wide array of sizes available, crape myrtle can be used as either a bush or a tree. “Varieties that can reach at least 15 to 20 feet are the best to tree form,” Tracy advises.

Dear Jane: Three years ago, I planted three crape myrtle bushes. I would like to prune them into the tree form. How do I do this? - Thelma Cohagen, Nashport Dear Thelma: This was a good summer for ...

Blooms are but one of crape myrtle’s charms. As summer fades, the foliage turns fiery shades of seasonal colors, and mottled bark extends the show into winter.

Crape myrtle blooms come in shades of pink, red, lilac and white. Be sure to grow them in a sunny location for maximum flower production. Like most plants that bloom during the summer, crape ...