We should be planting more of these trees

Lagerstroemia speciosa commonly called Queens Crape Myrtle or Pride of India originated in India and southern Asia.

20130630Garden (Peggy Chin)Queens Crape Myrtle is from the Lythraceae family and must not be confused with the shrub Queen of Flowers – Lagerstroemia indica – which is a small showy flowering shrub.

Queens Crape Myrtle is a beautiful medium size flowering tree that grows to a height of approximately 60 ft with thin leathery ovate leaves 3 – 6 inches long and clusters of large showy flowers with frilled petals. Each flower has 6 petals.

Prized for its long blooming period Queens Crape Myrtle comes in colours of mauve to purple and pink. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental specimen or street tree in tropical and subtropical countries. There are approximately 50 species. Queens Crape Myrtle is planted along Garnett Street Campbellville, Brickdam and Seawall Road. The Pink trees are very showy on Brickdam. However, they are in need of a good trimming, cleaning of