Lagerstroemia Enduring White - Crape Myrtle

The Lagerstroemia indica Enduring White is a variety of Indian Lilac with an early flowering and a compact habit. Its white, dense and generous flowering appears from the end of June or early July and lasts all summer. When they first appear, the young shoots are purple, turning to shiny dark green throughout the growing season. In autumn, the foliage takes on beautiful red tones. Selected for its good hardiness, this bush can be grown in pots in the coldest regions, and can flower well in cooler areas in warm and sheltered locations.

The Indian Lilac Enduring White belongs to the small family of Lythraceae, also known for hosting the pomegranate (Punica granatum) as well as the Cuphea. The Lagerstroemia can withstand temperatures down to -10°C to -15°C depending on the variety. However, it needs warmth to flower, which often limits its interest in northern areas, even though its bark becomes decorative over time, as the branches or trunk grow thicker. Indeed, in cooler areas, it is most often found in the form of a shrub, but in the south, one can come across specimens formed as trees.
The Lagerstroemia Enduring White is a remarkable variety with a well compact habit, forming a regular ball with a diameter of 1.5m at maturity. Its flowering is magnificent, with bright white flowers covering the bush in numerous clusters. The inflorescences are rather airy and composed of slender pedicels, each bearing a flower with five petals with a very undulate edge, whose texture resembles that of crêpe fabric. The leaves, leathery and deciduous, have a beautiful purple colour when they appear in spring. Then, the small oval leaves turn into a shiny dark green, which provides a superb backdrop for the flowering from late June to September. At the end of the season, the foliage is showcased by the warm red colourations it takes on in autumn. The Lagerstroemia grows in moist, well-drained soil and tolerates most types of soil, neutral to slightly acidic or slightly chalky. However, it absolutely requires a sunny exposure and must be pruned every year at the end of winter to flower well.

The Indian Lilacs are the pride of gardens in the Southwest. Preferring the humid and warm climates, it thrives in sunny regions. This bush is also worth acclimating in the colder areas of our country, by carefully choosing the variety and its location, Enduring White is a good candidate for this. It is when isolated, near the house, that you can fully enjoy its generosity. It also looks good in a shrub border, a flowering hedge, or emerging from a mound of perennials, such as Nepeta, salvias, or Asters. In a flowering hedge, accompany it with Kolkwitzia amabilis, lilacs, butterfly bushes, and Japanese quinces.

NB: Karl Von Linné named this tree to honour his friend Magnus Von Lagestroem (1696–1759), who had sent it to him from India for identification. Originally, this tree was used to decorate Chinese temples.