English: Crepe Myrtle.
Region: east Asia, China, Korea; invasive in South Africa, Belize, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands.
Habitat: open grassy places, cliffs, forest edges, semi-shaded places; fertile fields; warm temperate zone; well-drained soil, sunny sheltered position; succeeds in a hot dry position, soils low in nutrients; dislikes very alkaline soils; very drought tolerant; waste ground, disturbed sites, open grasslands, along roadsides; variety of climates, tropical and subtropical; notably resistant to honey fungus.
Use: medicine; wood; ornamental; soil stabilization, erosion control projects; concentrate heavy metals in polluted soil; wood for timber of excellent quality.
BotanyDeciduous shrub or small tree; upright, vase-shaped crown; 3 - 8 metres tall.
Stem: wood is white to light brown wood is hard.
Root: very aggressive and dense root system.
Inflorescence: broad panicles on the tips of the current years growth.