9 Ways to Use Crepe Myrtle Around Your Yard for More Curb Appeal

No wonder crepe myrtle is one of the most popular ornamentals in the American South. This multi-trunked flowering tree or shrub with its showy summer bloom, vibrant fall foliage, and peeling bark is beautiful all year long. It has low maintenance needs, is resistant to deer, drought, and pollution, and offers unparalleled versatility as a landscape ornamental.  

If you live in an area with mild winters (USDA Hardiness Zones 6-10) and your yard offers full sun and well-drained soil, here are nine different ways to incorporate a crepe myrtle into your landscape. 

For Shade

Crepe myrtle makes an excellent small shade tree to plant near a patio or deck. It has a medium to fast growth rate, adding 1 to 2 feet per year, so you don’t have to wait too long for it to fulfill its function. But with a maximum height and width of 30 feet, it won’t overwhelm your space. 

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As a Specimen

Crepe myrtles are commonly planted as specimens in front yards but that’s not the only place where they make an excellent focal point. They are equally handsome in the back of a property, provided they are given ample space for them to grow to their full size.

Underplanting and surrounding the crepe myrtle with groundcovers and perennials is fine but there should not be any other trees or shrubs encroaching on them. 

As an Accent

In the center of a lawn or otherwise open space, crepe myrtles shine as accent plants. With very little other greenery around, their blossoms, red, orange, or yellow fall foliage, and trunks with attractive exfoliating bark really stand out. 

In a Perennial Border

You don’t necessarily need a spacious front or back yard to plant a crepe myrtle. The huge number of crepe myrtle varieties also includes varieties small enough to be planted in a border with other perennials. Look for dwarf crepe myrtles that max out at 3 to 5 feet tall, such as ‘Pocomoke’ with deep, rose-pink flowers.

Or, if you want something even smaller, choose miniature types such as ‘Houston’, a weeping variety with watermelon-red flowers that only grows 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. The growing conditions of these smallest crepe myrtles are the same as the regular-size plants. 

Lining a Driveway or Walkway

Crepe myrtles are pretty when they are flanking a walkway or driveway in a loose, informal or staggered row. There are just a few things to keep in mind. The shrubs must be planted far enough from the walkway or driveway so that they won’t obstruct the passageway as they grow bigger.

Varieties that mature at 5 to 10 feet tall such as ‘Red Rooster’ usually work best for this purpose (taller varieties may interfere with utility lines). Although crepe myrtles withstand pollution, they have low salt tolerance and will suffer damage from heavy use of road salt in the winter.

As a Hedge or Privacy Screen

Because of their medium to fast growth, crepe myrtles are also a good choice for a hedge a privacy screen. Select tall varieties, such as the popular ‘Catawba’ (10 to 15 feet in height).

To make it more interesting, interplant varieties with different bloom colors but of the same mature height. White and various shades of pink and lavender all complement each other.

The spacing depends on the size of the variety and how you would like the hedge to look. For a dense hedge with a thick canopy, space the plants 6 to 10 feet apart.

While this may look sparse at the beginning, resist the urge to plant the crepe myrtles too close together because crowded plants with poor airflow are more prone to pests and diseases. 

As Foundation Plantings

As foundation plantings, crepe myrtles distract and disguise at the same time. Dwarf crepe myrtles are generally best, planted in groups or a staggered line.

Crepe myrtles roots are shallow and not invasive but keep a safe distance from the foundation, the same footage as the plant reaches at maturity (5 feet for a 5-foot plant). 

As a Mini Grove

Within a property, crepe myrtles can also be planted to define spaces, for example, planted in a straight or staggered line in a half circle.

To create a mini grove, choose crepe myrtle varieties that are neither too tall, which could give it a claustrophobic feel, nor too low-growing because that won’t have the desired privacy effect. 

As Container Plants

Where winters are too cold for crepe myrtles, growing them in large containers is a way to enjoy them in your landscape. Make sure to select a dwarf or miniature crepe myrtles and use a pot with large drainage holes and well-draining potting mix.

To facilitate moving the container to its winter location, use one with wheels. After the plant has dropped its leaves and it has entered dormancy in the fall, move the plant to an unheated garage or shed for the winter.