Whats up with crepe myrtles bloom

[GILBERT]

I have 4 Crepe Myrtles. They all are approx 16 to 18 tall. They are in full bloom now. What is throwing me a curve now is that all 4 bloomed beautifully last year in red color flowers ( according to my next door elder neighbor)......this year one of them is Lilac in color???

Is my neighbor telling me incorrect. I just bought the house this year. Her Crepe Myrtles are all red flowers as well....5 of them.

Just want to know...not knowing anything about Crepe Myrtles. Is that a characteristic of the Crepe Myrtle? They are pretty trees in bloom.


GILBERT

[Lynda]

Hmm. Not sure about the changing colors. Ours have always bloomed the same color - pink. Reading a little about it, it seems it is possible for them to change depending on fertilizer. We have many, and they are really hardy. You are supposed to lop them back each year - some we do, some we don't. And they all bloom. There are conflicting thoughts on that.

Enjoy them!

[Gummi Bear]

Soil nutrition has a lot to do with the color and vitality of crepe myrtles. Add in a responsible watering program and they'll be beautiful. When the nutrients are low, the blooms will be white.

We do a completely organic lawn care program at our house.


To add some nutrition to your shrubs, make up some liquefied seaweed and cut it with water according to the instructions on the bottle (this is a lot like a "compost tea", and is really rich in nutrients). Sprinkle some granulated fertilizer and dried molasses around the base, and gently water them in over the next few days.

[Javelin]

I am not a crepe mertle expert but i think the color has to do with the acidity of the soil

[berto]

Soil nutrition has a lot to do with the color and vitality of crepe myrtles. Add in a responsible watering program and they'll be beautiful. When the nutrients are low, the blooms will be white.

We do a completely organic lawn care program at our house.


To add some nutrition to your shrubs, make up some liquefied seaweed and cut it with water according to the instructions on the bottle (this is a lot like a "compost tea", and is really rich in nutrients). Sprinkle some granulated fertilizer and dried molasses around the base, and gently water them in over the next few days.

Good to know. I was wondering why mine where white this year

[M-2]

I have 4 Crepe Myrtles. They all are approx 16 to 18 tall. They are in full bloom now. What is throwing me a curve now is that all 4 bloomed beautifully last year in red color flowers ( according to my next door elder neighbor)......this year one of them is Lilac in color???

Is my neighbor telling me incorrect. I just bought the house this year. Her Crepe Myrtles are all red flowers as well....5 of them.

Just want to know...not knowing anything about Crepe Myrtles. Is that a characteristic of the Crepe Myrtle? They are pretty trees in bloom.


GILBERT

Gilbert, I've never heard anything about the acidity of the soil affecting that serious a change in crepe myrtle color...besides, the soil is the same as it was last year, I'm sure. I know soil PH can certainly affect the color of hydrangeas, though (pink = higher PH, blue = lower PH)
My guess is your neighbor just doesn't remember that one of the four was always lilac in color. OR...maybe your elderly neighbor has had cataract surgery/lens replacement in the past year, which enables him/her to actually be able to discern the correct color now

[bows08]

My problem is I don't know what color "Lilac" is! Mine are pink and have always been pink.

[ZZ Pops]

I have no idea why the blooms would be a different color this year. If any crepe myrtle experts chime in, maybe they can also explain why a couple of ours have two different colored blooms on the same plant!?! This doesn't happen every year, and not to the same plants when it does.

[Aggiehuntress]

I have 6 crepes 4 deep reds and 2 lilacs (purple). The color of flower depends on the type of tree, like with roses. But once a purple flower always a purple flower. Although some people plant two colors together so they intertwine and produce both colors

[GR5]

Just dig about 4 equal spaced holes around the leaf line with post hole diggers and fill er up with 13-13-13 or 12-24-12. They will really go crazy

[bows08]

Pink!

[GILBERT]

[ATTACH]357549[/ATTACH]
Pink!

My Crepe Myrtles look like yours but just a thad more red...except for the Lilac color one. Mine are also at the corners of the house in the rear more or less


GILBERT

[GILBERT]

Gilbert, I've never heard anything about the acidity of the soil affecting that serious a change in crepe myrtle color...besides, the soil is the same as it was last year, I'm sure. I know soil PH can certainly affect the color of hydrangeas, though (pink = higher PH, blue = lower PH)
My guess is your neighbor just doesn't remember that one of the four was always lilac in color. OR...maybe your elderly neighbor has had cataract surgery/lens replacement in the past year, which enables him/her to actually be able to discern the correct color now

Martha, you make a good point but it was her that called the difference, and it was her that called the color "Lilac", and the others...as she called them "reddish pink". I do not know but it sounds like as if she has no problems with distinguishing colors......remembering??? that is another thing to ponder.LOL! She is not really that elderly...maybe 60-62.

It sounds like maybe some other folks here are seeing something similar????


GILBERT

[M-2]

Martha, you make a good point but it was her that called the difference, and it was her that called the color "Lilac", and the others...as she called them "reddish pink". I do not know but it sounds like as if she has no problems with distinguishing colors......remembering??? that is another thing to ponder.LOL! She is not really that elderly...maybe 60-62.

It sounds like maybe some other folks here are seeing something similar????


GILBERT

60-62??? Heck NO she's not "elderly" (I'll be 63 in a couple weeks ). My bad, you referred to her as your "elder" neighbor, so I assumed maybe 80's
OK, I have no idea what the heck happened to make one of your trees change color, then! It's a moot point anyway, since I doubt you'll get that mad at the lilac tree enough to take it down (unless you are seriously OCD about symmetry). Let it be and vive la différence!
Maybe you'll get a yellow one next year (no such thing for crepes, but who knows?)

[bows08]

^^^Dang Gilbert! You just got owned! I kid!