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Shrubs

Lagerstroemia 'Acoma'

crape myrtle 'Acoma'

A large, upright and spreading multi-stemmed deciduous shrub, to around 3m in height, with dark green oval leaves which turn red-purple in the autumn. Masses of white flowers with ruffled petals appear from summer through to autumn, followed by round, dark brown seeds. Brown and grey peeling bark offers more interest throughout the year. Although semi-hardy, it may need protection in the winter in colder conditions

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lythraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright, Spreading branched
Genus: Lagerstroemia can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs, with simple leaves and conical panicles of flowers with ruffled petals; some have attractive peeling bark
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, acid to neutral, well-drained soil in full sun. Hot summers are needed for best flowering

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pruning group 1, but will tolerate hard pruning if needed

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly if grown indoors

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

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