myrtle

[Guy]

has anybody seen or tried 'crepe myrtle' as bonsai--the growth seems a little hectic but the flowers,trunk and autumn colours are excellent-can the growth be controlled

[craigw60]

Hi Guy,
I have seen some fantastic photos of crepe myrtle bonsai in Japanese books. These trees make really good bonsai and probably should be grown more often.
Craig

[Greth]

Agreed, well worth working with, they are one of the few trees I have seen which will self graft two close branches. Also tough, drought resistant, but dont like being too damp, powdery mildew can be a prob in damp situations.

[banksia]

I've heard they strike easily from cuttings, even those as thick as your wrist!! LLK posted a nice one in flower on Pup's Birthday thread.
By the way big fella...hope you had a good one.

Cheers!,
Anthony

[julz]

100_3493.JPG

hi people. this ones been flowering since december. my first post

[Ron]

Hi Guy & Julz and welcome to the forum.

Guy, over the last couple of weeks after seeing absolutely magnificent local street displays and these crepe myrtle for sale on eBay

CrepeMyrtle2.jpg

CrepeMyrtle1.JPG

CrepeMyrtleMauveWhite.JPG

(I bought this last one in January and it's just finishing flowering with white flowers.)

I've become very interested in crepes as bonsai too. I've bought 10 or 12 cheap ones from nursery orphan stock and some from bonsai nurseries - all different colours and some dwarf/mildew resistant varieties. I think these new Indian summer cultivars have real potential (the Tuscarora colour is magnificent in real life).

http://www.flemings.com.au/indian_summer.asp

I'm waiting for them to finish flowering and then I'm going to prune and shape them (just a bit). Towards late winter/early spring I'll repot them.

If you decide to have a go with crepes it will be interesting to compare notes.

[MelaQuin]

Mildew is a problem but you can get hybrids that are mildew resistant. Main problem with crepes is that they send out long shoots for flowers and if you prune for shape you lose the flowers and if you leave the shoots you have a bush and not a bonsai. I think the nature of their growth makes keeping them looking like flowering bonsai very difficult which is probably why they are not more popular.

[Ron]

There's some good info here on pruning them in relation to what you mention, MQ, although it relates to normal garden crepes:

http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&source= ... 89b6fc6f5a

[hugh grant]

Hey
I know that they can be collected quite successfuly. I know I guy who had a crape myrtle he collected which is probably about 80-90cm wide at the base and was cut off at about a metre, it's a massive massive tree but it has shoots all over it and is looking fine, you should see the bonsai pot he put it in it's a woper!

Hugh

[craigw60]

These are pics I took from a book so they are not very clear but will give yo some indication of whats possible with these trees
Craig

[kcpoole]

Laergerstroemia Indica can and do make wonderful Bonsai
Very Easy to grow from cuttings ( large ones) or layers etc.

Vigourous Growth and as they only flower at the ends of the new growth, tend to look leggy and Untidy if they are allowed to flower
Normally grown for just the spectular flaking bark and great ramification achievable

Ken

[amazonida]

Hi, Guy!
you can check my post, i have one here in Brazil. And if you like, feel free to join our disscution!
Thanks