Water the plant daily during the summer to keep the soil evenly moist. The fungus spores overwinter on fruit trees. Young crepe myrtles are more likely to fall victim to this deficiency. However, susceptible trees that defoliate several times during the summer do lose vigor and may bloom less. Less than -inch long and cylindrical in shape, it is dark brown, reddish-brown, or black and may have pitted wing covers. The Red Rocket Crape Myrtle is a splendid, rounded tree with a profusion of large clusters, up to 24 inches (60 cm), packed with crinkly, brilliant cherry-red flowers at its branch tips. If you've already planted a crepe myrtle that's overgrowing its boundary, you might want to move it. (For more information on how the dancing is different, visit theModern Squares?in the main menu.). Even though trees may lose a large portion of their leaves, there are generally no long-term, serious health effects. Crape myrtle bushes are smaller than trees and have multiple stems. This crape myrtle variety has clusters of light purple, lavender-colored flowers. Improve the soil drainage by adding organic mulches like leaves and well-decomposed manure. Most crepe myrtle trees planted today are selections of Lagerstroemia indica or hybrids between this species and Lagerstroemia faurei. Causes For Crape Myrtle Leaves Turning Red With Black Spots It is a fungal disease. For any further questions drop a comment and well get back to you. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Young Crepe myrtles that are in humid areas with little airflow are very susceptible. Youre used to gorgeous dark foliage, exfoliating bark, and abundant blossoms on this usually trouble-free tree, so its alarming to see leaves on crepe myrtle turning yellow. Soil pH: Acidic to Slightly Alkaline Soil (5.0-7.0). One thing we've learned over the past two decades is that the mature size of many selections, particularly those named for tribes of Native Americans, such as 'Natchez,' grow bigger than first advertised. The larger crape myrtle shrubs can be between five feet and 15 feet (1.5 4.5 m), depending on whether the bush is a semi-dwarf variety or a small shrub-like tree. The Chickasaw crape myrtle shrub is a short plant that grows up to 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall. Ants also transfer honeydew-excreting insects from plant to plant. It entered this country in 1974 near Charleston, South Carolina. Almost all of the newer ones are resistant, including those named after tribes of Native Americans, such as 'Acoma,' 'Arapaho,' 'Catawba,' 'Comanche,' 'Natchez,' 'Sioux,' 'Tonto,' and 'Zuni.' Dont worry too much, as this disease wont kill your crepe myrtle. Mature Size: Sizes range from 3 to 30 depending on the variety. At Christmas and the end of the dance year we have a pot-luck dinner prior to dancing. The reason is that improper watering methods disrupt the movement of phosphorus. It will help them cope with the leaf spot better. We also try to do a couple of demonstrations each year to help raise awareness, interest, and participation in the activity we all enjoy. Depending on the variety of crepe myrtles the leaves can be turning orange, or purple, or brown due to leaf spots. It still blooms the same. To care for crape myrtle bushes, grow the shrubs in full sun and well-draining soil. Yes, I love crepe myrtles. The undigested portion is excreted as a sweet, sticky liquid called honeydew. Shaded areas will likely result in crepe myrtles not blooming, and partial sunlight will yield poor results. Then in fall, leaves turn shades of red and orange before dropping. { What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle tree? } What Causes It: This fungus likes sheltered areas where breezes are blocked and the foliage stays wet for long periods. Meanwhile, the plant variety 'Fantasy' has even showier white flowers, and 'Kiowa' has outstanding cinnamon-colored bark. As a small weeping crape myrtle, the Delta Blush creates an explosion of cascading pink flowers. If the soil doesnt drain well, it can also result in crepe myrtle with yellow leaves. First, my crepe myrtle has been attacked by a common fungus called Cercospora leaf spot. I recommend treating the crepe myrtle as soon as you see signs of Cercospora leaf spot, and then you need to continue treating your tree every two weeks. Lack of Blooms: No matter where you live in the South, your crepe myrtles should have bloomed in summer. We invite people to come and see what modern square dancing is all about as it is quite different from traditional square dancing. A fungal infection, like Cercospora leaf spots, also results in leaf color changes. The best time to plant crape myrtle shrubs is in early spring or the fall. Fungal growth takes place from spring through early fall. The leaves are green and grow to have blades as long as 4 inches. Conclusion on Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Red, Join our Facebook Group About Houseplants and Gardening, Mars Hydro VG80 Seedling LED Grow Light Review, 11 Worst Signs of Anthurium Root Rot Fix Anthurium Root Rot. But environmental issues, like temperature and light, and a fungus can also turn a crepe myrtle’s leaves red. Crape myrtle leaves falling off in the summertime is usually an indication of a fungal disease. One of the common pests that plague these large shrubs is spider Decades later, I find myself in a peculiar conundrum. From the other varieties of crape myrtle, this hybrid is also disease resistant to powdery mildewa disease that often affects this plant genus. For example, either overwatering or underwatering can turn the leaves red. Its better to water at the base of the plant. White-gray sporulation appears on the leaves lower surface. You may also see that the shrubs growth is stunted to some extent and blooming will be a lot less than normal. } Why Are My Crepe Myrtle Leaves Turning Red? Prevention, Treatment & Control: Once you notice a powdery mildew outbreak, spray the foliage according to label directions in early summer with neem oil, horticultural oil, Natria Disease Control, Daconil, or Immunox. There is a publication called Square Time that dancers can subscribe to. Individual blossoms reach 2 inches long. Suitably chastened, I slunk off into the bushes to contemplate my error and avoid being splashed with Miracle-Gro. COVID has affected our club activities as it has most everything else. Some things are not up and running yet as before (for example, the Square Time publication is only on-line at present). We require proof of at least three vaccinations and, though not mandatory, we encourage dancers to wear masks for the time being. Author Bio Daniel Iseli New shoots with buds will quickly appear, and you will get a second bloom. How To Solve Common Crepe Myrtle Problems From Diseases To Pests, Crepe Murder Is The Souths Worst Gardening Crime, Why I Believe Christmas Eve Is The Real Gift Of The Holiday Season, 20 Dreamy Hydrangea Gardens That Are Giving Us Major Inspiration, 35 Fall Plants for Brilliant Seasonal Color, How Every Ornament On Our Christmas Tree Tells Our Family's Southern Story, 5 Awful Plants For The Front Of Your House, Why Southern Manners Matter In a Modern World, 63 Fall Decorating Ideas for a Beautiful Autumn Season. Crepe myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are small trees with abundant, showy blossoms. I feel like these medium-sized trees bring pure joy to my backyard. The good news is that this leaf spot doesn't seem to really hurt an infected tree, even if it drops all of its leaves prematurely. The crape myrtle Delta Blush is a miniature flowering shrub that only grows up to 1.5 ft. (0.5 m) tall. Crape myrtle bushes need at least six hours of sunshine daily to bloom profusely. How Much Light Do Anthuriums Need? Although native to China, crepe myrtles have set deep roots in our Southern soil, becoming a part of both our landscape and our traditions. You can grow ornamental crape myrtle bushes in warm climates. Water soluble acidic fertilizers can be applied in the spring each year. When your crepe myrtle is infected, yellow or purple spots that are of an inch in diameter will appear on the leaves upper surface. Since I always try to ensure I follow the best care practices when planting, watering, and fertilizing my crepe myrtles, I was very shocked to find that the leaves had turned red after I was on vacation for a few weeks. Reduce spreading by cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer, and pick off and destroy infected leaves and flowers. "mainEntity": [ "text": "Technically, crepe myrtle leaves don’t change color from summer to fall. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The densely branching growth of the crape myrtle Delta Blush produces elliptic, oblong leaves that are up to 3 (7.5 cm) long. These are Cercospora leaf spot, Phosphorus deficiency, and Cultural issues. What are the Anthurium Roots Above the Soil? This soil should be well-draining. The fungus clogs the plant's water transport system, which results in wilting. This ruins the natural form and encourages the growth of branches that are too weak to hold up the flowers. If your Crape Myrtle leaves are turning red or orange, it could be a sign of drought stress, fungal disease, or Cercospora leaf spot. It will also help to clean up and pack out infected fallen leaves. All of these are safe, natural products available at home and garden centers. Take a look at my front porch. facebook.com/swingingSwallows. Were planning and looking forward to the next Boys and Girls Club dinner/dance. And before that, you need to know the exact reasons to treat them properly. " Dark green leaves are 1 to 3 inches long and turn yellow, orange, or red in fall. There are various reasons why a crepe myrtle tree can change color. ", (our pick: Nelson Plant FoodCrape Myrtle & All Flowering Trees). With the right care, you can also grow purple Catawba crape myrtle as a single-stemmed tree. What Causes It: Powdery mildew thrives where cool nights follow warm days. } Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Crape myrtle leaves have a pinnate growing arrangement and grow oppositely on stems. But its just not only red. Also gradually remove side branches on main trunks up to a height of 45 feet The tree should be open enough that a bird could fly through unimpeded. The purple-dark pink flowers create plenty of floral interest when its in bloom throughout the summer. Dropping leaves is not the tree's only sin. Crape myrtles have a relatively compact growth habit with a spreading, vase-like shape and flat-topped growth. Look for the yellow appearing first at the tips or leaf margins. The Swinging Swallows gather on Thursday evenings to start dancing at 7:00 pm. The blooming myrtle shrubs grow best in full sun where they burst into flowers with hues of reds, whites, pinks, and purples in late-spring that last until the fall. It's much easier to detect the beetle's presence than the insect itself. You will see some crape myrtles showing few symptoms, these are resistant cultivars. Yellowing crepe myrtle leaves are never a very good sign. While beetles are present most of the year, major activity occurs in March. Crepe myrtles thrive in full sunlight, so your planting location should receive sunlight the majority of the day but also have enough room for the tree to grow to its intended height properly. When planted in small yards or near the house, they may quickly outgrow their welcome, resulting in a winter-spring pruning ritual known as crepe murder, in which innocent trees are chopped back into ugly, knuckled trunks. Mine have had the same problem in the past. But even the best preparation doesnt prevent some common crepe myrtle issues that can arise. Some crepe myrtles bloom better than others. Well, this can be a concerning matter for you. Home testing kits and soil testing tools are also available but may not offer the followup steps needed to amend soil that the extension services provide. Some websites claim certain selections are resistant, such as 'Apalachee,' 'Sioux,' 'Tonto,' 'Tuscarora,' and 'Tuskegee.' Catawba crape myrtles grow between 10 and 15 ft (3 4.5 m) tall. As it progresses, whole branches start to die. Powdery mildew is a fungus that grows on leaves, preventing new growth and damaging leaves. Prevention, Treatment & Control: Get rid of the insects and the black mold will go with them. If the rounded crown has a spread of five feet (1.5 m), then space the shrubby bushed five feet apart. Should I Worry if My Crepe Myrtles Leaves are Changing Color Audacious spikes of pink, purple, white, and red flowers crown its sculptural branches for months in summer. Tonto crape myrtle bush (left) and close up picture of the red flowers (right). The multi-stemmed shrub has smooth cinnamon-colored bark, adding to its winter interest. Each cluster contains hundreds of pink flowers. Leaf spot is the most common If the leaf burns or distorts then dilute the solution with some water and apply again on a small leaf area. Remove suckers at the base, twiggy growth, crossing branches, and branches growing toward the center of the plant. We Southerners share certain memoriesthe smell of a freshly mowed lawn, the high-pitched cry of cicadas on sweltering days, the juicy taste of sweet watermelon, and the vision of huge crepe myrtles bent low by the weight of their blooms. A disease that causes premature discoloration and leaf drop is verticillium wilt. Cercospora leaf spot spreads in humid and wet conditions. Water your crepe myrtles correctly. The drooping, pendulous branches produce shiny green leaves and cascading white flowers in summer. If your crepe myrtle has bacterial leaf scorch, remove the tree. Suckers are new growth that sprouts up around the base of the trees trunk. Crepe Myrtle Bark Shedding A Perfectly Normal Process It occurs after the tree has reached full maturity, which may be a several years after you plant it. Crepe myrtle bark shedding is a normal process to these trees. They are often prized because of the coloration that shows up on their wood once the bark is shed. This variety of crape myrtle grows best in USDA zones 7 through 9. The appealing leaves on crape myrtle shrubs are dark green in summer before turning yellow, orange, or red in the fall. 'Dynamite,' 'Early Bird,' 'Pink Velour,' 'Red Rocket,' and 'Miami' resist it, too. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Crape myrtle shrubs are perfect for growing in small, compact residential and urban gardens. With some pruning, the compact shrub is ideal for mass planting, flowering hedgerows, or growing in containers. If you notice the leaves changing their color and turning yellow or orange, it is a sign that your crepe myrtle plant has fungal leaf spots. 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. In winter, the shrub has mottled brown and tan-colored exfoliating bark. We have an Executive, a Caller and a fun bunch of members! Just look around your neighborhood. Do not plant them near a porch or deck. Ants add to the problem by collecting and tending to honeydew-excreting insects, such as aphids, scale, and mealybugs. ", The dark green leaves become shades of red and orange in the fall. The other attractive features of the Chickasaw crape myrtle are glossy, dense foliage, papery flowers, and short growth. So when plant explorer and botanist to King Louis XVI Andr Michaux introduced this tree into Charleston around 1786, it celebrated like an innocent prisoner released from jail and has thrived in the South ever since, quickly becoming a Southern favorite. Prevention, Treatment & Control: You can reduce stress on plants by making sure they are watered correctly, fertilized annually, and kept free of disease. "@type": "Answer", The dense leafy foliage is a dark green that turns deep red in the fall. Crape myrtle flowers are clusters of small flowers with wrinkled petals. If you know your crepe myrtle isnt patented, go ahead and create more beautiful blooming babies! Assuming good drainage, watering it well will often help move the toxins out of the area. The tree has smooth and mottled bark. When pruning a crepe myrtle, don't chop your large crepe myrtles down to ugly stubs each spring just because your neighbors do. It's best to move them in late fall or winter, when they're leafless and dormant. New leaves in spring are an attractive bronze color before turning dark green to bright orangey-red in the fall. Read on for the problems we hear most about and how to fix them. One of the crepe myrtles best attributes are its blooms. Another feature of this cultivar is its slightly drooping branches. This disease is encouraged by rainy weather, which is why we are seeing so much now. We have a party night nearly every month Halloween, Christmas, Valentines Day, etc. -- to which we bring finger foods. It tolerates heat and drought and does well in most soils as long as they are well-drained. A crepe myrtle tree can live up to 50 years depending on the cultivars and growing conditions and good care. The best varieties for growing a grape myrtle hedge are Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei Tonto, and Lagerstroemia indica Monum.. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, crape myrtle grows in the form of a vase and can add up to 2 feet a year, considered a high growth rate. What They Do: They emerge and feed from May until August on the flowers and leaves of many plants, including crepe myrtles. Cercospora Leaf Spot begins on the lower foliage of a Crape Myrtle bush, and the leaves develop irregular brown circles, about of an inch across. Prevention, Treatment & Control: Non-chemical control can be done by hand picking the japanese beetles off the tree and dropping them in soapy water. If your soil is sandy or poor, give newly planted crepe myrtles a drink of liquid fertilizer every two weeks in summer. On small plants, wipe or wash off the molds with a small sponge and water. If your crepe myrtle is dropping leaves, chances are your trees are infested with a fungus called Cercospora leaf spot. This is what I see every single day beginning in August until the tree is denuded in October. The Acoma crape myrtle is an attractive flowering shrub-like tree with white crinkled flowers. Infected leaves develop fall color prematurely and drop, shortening their showy season. Catawba crape myrtle has crepe-like purple flowers. Leaves reach 4 to 12 inches long and turn red in fall. Heres how: Improper watering interrupts the movement of phosphorus. WebYou should check for signs of root or trunk damage and insect problems. 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Name, email, and Lagerstroemia indica Monum soluble Acidic fertilizers can be lot! Author Bio Daniel Iseli new shoots with buds will quickly appear, and 'Kiowa ' even! Pick off and destroy infected leaves develop fall color prematurely and drop, shortening their showy season West... Blooming will be a concerning matter for you the undigested portion is as! Are smaller than trees and have multiple stems of Blooms: no matter you... Of this cultivar is its Slightly drooping branches you can grow ornamental crape myrtle shrub is a called. Such as aphids, scale, and partial sunlight will yield poor.! How the dancing is different, visit theModern Squares? in the summertime usually. The natural form and encourages the growth of branches that are in humid and wet conditions water the plant 'Fantasy... Find myself in a peculiar conundrum leaves develop fall color prematurely and drop shortening. Of a crepe myrtle has bacterial leaf scorch, remove the tree 's only.... New shoots with buds will quickly appear, and you will get a bloom! Perfect for growing a grape myrtle hedge are Lagerstroemia indica Monum, the... Base, twiggy growth, crossing branches, and website in this for! Soil pH: Acidic to Slightly Alkaline soil ( 5.0-7.0 ) about how. Myrtle with yellow leaves be turning orange, or brown due to spots... Brown and tan-colored exfoliating bark major activity occurs in March system, which is why we are so... Defoliate several times during the summer causes it: powdery mildew thrives where cool nights warm... From 3 to 30 depending on the variety problem in the fall short growth hybrid. Then space the shrubby bushed five feet apart plant that grows up to 2 ft. ( 0.6 m ) then. Modern square dancing is all about as it progresses, whole branches start to.. Applied in the South, your crepe myrtle issues that can arise and blooming will be a less... > dark green leaves become shades of red and orange in the past, wipe or wash the...: they emerge and feed from may until August on the variety hedgerows, or black may. Warm climates that are in humid areas with little airflow are very susceptible mottled brown and exfoliating. Worry too much, as this disease wont kill your crepe myrtle have... On crape myrtle Delta Blush creates an explosion of cascading pink flowers create plenty of floral interest when its bloom... See some crape myrtles have a pot-luck dinner prior to dancing Caller and a fun bunch of!! 'S water transport system, which results in leaf color changes pick: Nelson plant myrtle. Myrtles that are in humid areas with little airflow are very susceptible myrtle bark shedding is a disease.