‘Apalachee’ crape myrtle is an improved cultivar resulting from the U.S. National Arboretum’s (LINK) work in hybridizing Lagerstroemia indica and Lagerstroemia fauriei. The Apalachee crape myrtle is one of three lavender crape myrtle hybrids introduced through this program. This small statured tree, named for the Native American Apalachee tribe, features a summer long bloom season and is graced with lightly scented flowers. Being one of the few scented crape myrtles makes this tree particularly desirable as a producer of cut flowers. The mottled cinnamon-colored bark and ornamental seed capsules that follow an orange to red autumn foliage display make Apalachee crape myrtle a wonderful garden selection with four season interest.
Our arboretum collection currently includes dozens of cultivars of Lagerstroemia. The crape myrtles are highly prized for their lovely summer flowers as well as their showy bark and usefulness in small landscape settings. Native to China, Japan and Korea, the Crape Myrtles are well adapted to our climate conditions as well as conditions in warmer regions of the southeastern United States.