Lagerstroemia chekiangensis
Common name: 
Crape Myrtle
Pronunciation: 
la-ger-STRO-me-a che-kyang-EN-sis
Family: 
Lythraceae
Genus: 
Lagerstroemia
Synonyms: 
Lagerstroemia limii
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf, deciduous multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, about 12 ft (~4 m) tall. Bark brown, peeling slightly to reveal redder bark below. Leaves opposite to subopposite, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 4.5-3 × 2.5-6 cm, thin and leathery, 10-17 pairs lateral veins, base tapering to nearly rounded, apex shortly pointed. Flower clusters terminal, 8-18 cm, open, densely pubescent. Flower petals (“crinkled crepe paper”) reddish to pink, ovate to suborbicular, 9-12 mm, about 35 stamens. Fruit dry and dehiscent (capsule), elliptic to oblong, about 1 cm long.
  • Full sun
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 7       Native to China; the mixed forests, low mountains of Fujian, Hubei, Zhejiang
  • “Lagerstroemia chekiangensis is in some ways a poor relation of L. fauriei and L. indica – having neither bark nor outstanding floral features to commend it” (Trees and Shrubs Online).
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, summer flowering

    plant habit, summer flowering

  • flower clusters

    flower clusters

  • flower cluster

    flower cluster

  • leaves

    leaves