Lagerstroemia indica Gourmet Choco Pink - Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica 'Lagvap' Gourmet Choco Pink is a variety of Crape Myrtle, particularly attractive not only for its generous pink flowering, but also for the evolving colour of its foliage, as well as its decorative bark on mature specimens. The young spring shoots display a reddish-brown to chocolate tone, then gradually turn to dark green when the pink flower clusters appear, stretching from July to September. In autumn, the foliage tends to colour in orange-brown before falling to the ground. This medium-sized summer Lilac will withstand cold temperatures of around -15°C once well established. It loves full sun and shows resistance to common diseases.

Lagerstroemia is a member of the Lythraceae family, represented in our southern gardens by Pomegranate (Punica) and Cuphea, a genus of shrubs with superb flowering. There are no fewer than thirty to forty species of Lagerstroemia, trees and shrubs, deciduous or evergreen, native to Asia and Australia. Lagerstroemia indica, or Crape Myrtle, despite its name, originates from China and Japan. In its natural state, it develops into a shrub or small tree, reaching up to 6 to 8 m in height. This deciduous plant is clothed in small oval leaves, which take on pretty warm colours in autumn before falling to the ground. The species is relatively hardy, down to -15°/-20°C, but only flowers satisfactorily in climates with sufficiently long and warm summers.
A fashionable plant among breeders for its many aesthetic and cultural qualities, Lagerstroemia now comes in numerous horticultural varieties, which vary in both the colour of the flowering and that of the foliage. This is the case with 'Gourmet Choco Pink', which varies in both. The medium-sized shrub eventually reaches 2.50 m in height, with a spread of 1.50 m to 1.80 m. As with all Lagerstroemias, these dimensions can be contained to smaller proportions by annual pruning. It is possible to grow it in a pot, but other varieties, such as 'With Love Kiss', are more suited to this use. In spring, 'Gourmet Choco Pink' emerges in the finest reddish-brown to chocolate tones, which last throughout spring. The small oval leaves then evolve towards a more classic dark green, which allows the flowering to be well highlighted. From July, clusters of light flowers with crinkled edges like crepe paper develop, which gives it its English common name "Crape Myrtle". Of a beautiful, clear pink, they renew themselves until September, sometimes longer, attracting all eyes in the garden. With the arrival of autumn and the first cold spells, the foliage tends to colour again, in a brownish orange. When the leaves fall, they reveal the wood and particularly the bark, which peels on mature specimens, thus prolonging the ornamental interest of the shrub during winter.

Lagerstroemia is the king shrub of summer, few others, apart perhaps from Hibiscus syriacus, being able to rival its flowering. You can plant it in isolation, as it is ornamental almost all year round, but you will achieve even more effect by integrating it into a bed alongside shrubs with staggered flowering periods. Stachyurus praecox, rather unknown despite its obvious ornamental qualities, will launch the season with its strings of small pale yellow bells in March-April. Its medium green foliage will differentiate well from that of your Lagerstroemia and will colour in warm tones, red, orange and yellow in autumn. Weigela florida 'Nana Variegata' will then take over with its pink trumpet flowers in May-June, which rebloom in autumn. Moreover, its green foliage variegated with white will create a very pretty contrast with the Crape Myrtle.