Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia indica
Common Name: Pride of India

 

Use: Outdoors
Indigenous/Exotic : Exotic
Evergreen/Deciduous : Deciduous
Plant Type : Tree
Flower Colour : Shades of red, pink, purple, white and mauve
Foliage Colour : Green
Best Season : Summer
Light : Sun
Hardiness : Hardy
Attributes :
Height (m) : 4
Spread (m) : 2.5
    
Notes : Originates in China. Tall shrub to small tree with leaves that turn red before they fall and bear terminal sprays of crinkly flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, white, mauve and lavender. A dwarf variety is also available. Although these shrubs and trees thrive in warm areas, they are frost resistant and so will grow in cold climates, as long as they receive plenty of summer watering and protection from wind. They need to be pruned hard to encourage flowering. Under favourable conditions they will grow to a height of seven metres, but do not flower as prolifically when they are pruned. Apply a dressing of compost and fertiliser in spring.