If you really want to give the gift of color this holiday season, skip the clothing and jewelry and instead consider a crape myrtle tree for your home and garden. These fast growing trees are very ornamental, with clusters of papery flowers that bloom in a bevy of color options.

Crape myrtles are highly decorative trees that also provide shade due to their combination of thick leaves and plentiful flower buds. Unfortunately these trees were naturally susceptible to myriad problems: powdery mildew, sooty mold and aphids. Powdery mildew develops in late spring and fall and causes leaves, young buds and flowers to be heavily coated with a white mold that can distort new growth. Infected buds may not open, and severely infected leaves and buds often drop early. This prevalent predator in particular can be devastating to crape myrtles.

Thanks to a breeding program undertaken by the U.S. National Arboretum, scientists have developed a series of hybrid crape myrtle trees that are not only attractive but extremely disease and pest resistant.

Fast Growing Trees Nursery offers the most popular crape myrtle hybrids: Dynamite Crape Myrtle, Red Rocket Crape Myrtle, Pink Velour Crape Myrtle, Muskogee Crape Myrtle, and Natchez Crape Myrtle. These hybrids are known for their abundant summer and fall color, handsome bark, low maintenance, long life and the fact that they're relatively free of crippling diseases and insects. Previously known as a Southern gem, hybrids of this traditionally southern tree can now flourish in colder climates.

Dynamite Crape Myrtles are the most vividly colored hybrids, bearing deep red blooms that start in early July and last for 100 days. These hardy trees are suitable for most climate zones and are very resistant to powdery mildew and drought. The Dynamite Crape Myrtle was developed to be one of the most spectacular red blooms ever created. Fast Growing Trees Nursery Manager Travis Zboch said that this is such a popular tree because of the fact that it blooms red in the summer months, while most other trees don't turn red until the late summer or early fall. "The summertime is when your lawn is at the peak of being vividly green and healthy, and nothing compliments that better than red," he said.

Red Rocket Crape Myrtles start to bloom in the middle of July and continue through September. In total, they bloom for 120 days. The Red Rocket is distinctive from the Dynamite in that the blooms of the Red Rocket are more fiery red, compared to the deep indigo hues found in the red Dynamite. The Red Rocket has quite the impressive resume -- it's the fastest growing crape myrtle hybrid and the cone-shaped clusters of flowers can reach up to 20 inches.

"This tree doesn't beat around the bush, so to speak," Zboch said. "It's got beautiful bright red flowers and shoots up like a rocket." The Red Rocket is highly resistant to drought and powdery mildew, and can be planted 5 feet apart for a colorful privacy fence during the summer months. With a blooming period of four months, Zboch noted that this is the tree that keeps on giving. "Even in the late summer months, your lawn will glow with brightly colored flowers."

For those seeking trees bright but not so red, Pink Velour Crape Myrtles are the answer. With flowers that are best described as hot pink, these trees blooms from spring to fall. Combining form with function, these hybrids are highly mildew and pest resistant, and still lusciously attractive and fragrant. Zboch referred to this particular tree as, "a true Southern Belle," and noted that the Pink Velour grows in zones 6 through 10, meaning it is adaptable to climates and soil types as far as southern Florida.

Muskogee Crape Myrtles can climb to heights of 20 to 25 feet high at maturity. They start blooming in mid-June and give you lavender blooms for 120 days. These lovely fast growing trees require minimal pruning, are resistant to breakage and have a high drought tolerance. The Muskogee is also tolerant of cold climates and can grow as far north as Growing Zone 6. The long term health of this tree is not affected by pests and it is highly resistant to powdery mold.

Natchez Crape Myrtles were one of the first hybrid releases and are considered by many to be the golden standard for Crapes. These hardy trees can reach heights of 25 to 30 feet and are considered to have outstanding ornamental features. Their white blooms start appearing in mid-June and continue for 110 days and in the winter months the bark exfoliates, revealing a dark cinnamon brown trunk. The Natchez Crape Myrtle is highly resistant to powdery mold and aphids and is tolerant of extreme heat and cold. This fast growing tree is ideal for growing zones 7 through 10.

Fast-Growing-Trees.com is a mail order nursery with headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. For pictures and more information about the Crape Myrtle hybrids and the dozens of other varieties of fast growing trees, visit the Fast Growing Trees Nursery online or call 1-888-222-5150.

By: Deborah Bartley
Deborah Bartley Fast Growing Trees Nursery

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