Centennial Spirit Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica 'Centennial Spirit'
Displays large, long lasting, non-fading clusters of rose-red, crepe-like flowers. Handsome mildew-resistant foliage is dark green in summer, red-orange fall color. Gray colored bark exfoliates in thin strips to expose smooth, cream colored bark. This attractive small tree was introduced by Oklahoma State University. Deciduous.
| Key feature: | Summer Flowering |
| Plant types: | Shrub, Tree |
| Patent Act: | Asexual reproduction of plants protected by the Plant Patent Act is prohibited during the life of the patent. |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Deciduous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 7 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 7 - 10, 12 - 14, 18 - 21 |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | 10 to 20 ft. tall and wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Round |
| Flower attribute: | Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Fall Color, Improved Pest and Disease Resistance, Waterwise, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Firescaping/Fire Wise, Privacy Screen |
| Flower color: | Red |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 5476 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Feed regularly during the growing season with a general purpose fertilizer. Prune annually in late winter to promote vigorous new growth. Pruning time: winter.
Design Ideas
The perfect small accent tree for urban and spatially challenged suburban yards. Ideal for front yard in the lawn or for largish planters near the front door. Line them up along the driveway for a late summer show. Blend into sweeping beds and borders to balance out spring blooming trees. Beautiful bark is exceptional up close for shading outdoor living spaces, porch and patio.
Companion Plants
Blend this casual styled plant with other relaxed perennials such as Marmalade Coral Bells, (Heuchera x 'Marmalade'), Farmington Michaelmas Daisy, (Aster novi-belgii 'Balco'), Pixie Meadowbrite Coneflower, (Echinacea x 'CBG Cone 2') and Astilbe Colorflash Lime, (Astilbe arendsii 'Beauty of Lisse'). It's also a good balance for spring blooming Magical Gold Forsythia, (Forsythia intermeida 'Kolgold').
History
This species is native to a large region spanning the South Pacific from China to parts of northern Australia. It first arrived in Britain and named in 1759. But crape myrtle really flourished in America where botanist Andre Michaux, who owned a nursery in Charleston, South Carolina because the first to successfully cultivate them around 1786. It is recorded to have been grown in the early 18th century at historic sites around Mount Vernon and throughout the south where most of the contemporary cultivars were developed. Centennial Spirit is a new mildew resistant variety developed in 1981 and patented by Oklahoma State University.
Lore
In its Asian habitat of origin, crape myrtle's famously smooth bark became known as "monkey slide".
Displays large, long lasting, non-fading clusters of rose-red, crepe-like flowers. Handsome mildew-resistant foliage is dark green in summer, red-orange fall color. Gray colored bark exfoliates in thin strips to expose smooth, cream colored bark. This attractive small tree was introduced by Oklahoma State University. Deciduous.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Feed regularly during the growing season with a general purpose fertilizer. Prune annually in late winter to promote vigorous new growth. Pruning time: winter.
Design Ideas
The perfect small accent tree for urban and spatially challenged suburban yards. Ideal for front yard in the lawn or for largish planters near the front door. Line them up along the driveway for a late summer show. Blend into sweeping beds and borders to balance out spring blooming trees. Beautiful bark is exceptional up close for shading outdoor living spaces, porch and patio.
Companion Plants
Blend this casual styled plant with other relaxed perennials such as Marmalade Coral Bells, (Heuchera x 'Marmalade'), Farmington Michaelmas Daisy, (Aster novi-belgii 'Balco'), Pixie Meadowbrite Coneflower, (Echinacea x 'CBG Cone 2') and Astilbe Colorflash Lime, (Astilbe arendsii 'Beauty of Lisse'). It's also a good balance for spring blooming Magical Gold Forsythia, (Forsythia intermeida 'Kolgold').
History
This species is native to a large region spanning the South Pacific from China to parts of northern Australia. It first arrived in Britain and named in 1759. But crape myrtle really flourished in America where botanist Andre Michaux, who owned a nursery in Charleston, South Carolina because the first to successfully cultivate them around 1786. It is recorded to have been grown in the early 18th century at historic sites around Mount Vernon and throughout the south where most of the contemporary cultivars were developed. Centennial Spirit is a new mildew resistant variety developed in 1981 and patented by Oklahoma State University.
Lore
In its Asian habitat of origin, crape myrtle's famously smooth bark became known as "monkey slide".
| Key feature: | Summer Flowering |
| Plant types: | Shrub, Tree |
| Patent Act: | Asexual reproduction of plants protected by the Plant Patent Act is prohibited during the life of the patent. |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Deciduous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 7 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 7 - 10, 12 - 14, 18 - 21 |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | 10 to 20 ft. tall and wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Round |
| Flower attribute: | Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Fall Color, Improved Pest and Disease Resistance, Waterwise, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Firescaping/Fire Wise, Privacy Screen |
| Flower color: | Red |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 5476 |
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Monrovia soil products
The best fertilizer to use with this plant is Tree & Shrub Food.view soil products