Lagerstroemia indica Neige dEté - Crape Myrtle

The Lagerstroemia indica 'Summer Snow' is a recent variety of Indian Lilac from the INDIYA CHARMS® series, which brings together early-flowering varieties that are capable of offering abundant flowering. The small size of this bush does not prevent it from blooming from early July, in the form of impressive frothy clusters of white flowers reminiscent of lilacs.

The Lagerstroemia indica 'Summer Snow', obtained in France in 2012 by Lagerstroemia SARL, is part of a series of carefully selected hybrids in a Landes nursery for their unique colours, early flowering, floribundity, compactness, and reduced susceptibility to Powdery Mildew. This variety described by SAPHO, a French publisher of new garden plant creations, is still not widely available commercially.

The 'Summer Snow' variety belongs to the Lythraceae family, just like the Lagerstroemia indica from which it originates. The latter is native to China. This bush has an upright and ramified habit from the base, with a rounded, slightly spreading crown. It will reach an average height of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) at maturity, with a diameter of 3.50 m. Its growth is quite rapid. It chooses early July to initiate its flowering, which will continue until September. The large inflorescences are formed of slender pedicels, each bearing five petals with undulating edges, whose texture resembles that of crepe. They are gathered in large, dense panicles at the end of the branches from the current year.

The 'Summer Snow' pedicels and flower buds are pinkish before opening widely in white with silvery reflections. The leathery and deciduous leaves emerge in bronze-red before becoming dark green and shiny. They comprise small ovate leaves, which often take on pretty orange or coppery hues in autumn, depending on the climate. Lastly,  its truly beautiful bark is smooth, beige striated with grey, reddish-brown, peeling off in coloured patches (cinnamon, muted red, old rose, cream).

Indian Lilacs are small trees that need to be acclimatised to colder climes, so the variety and its location should be by carefully chosen. Its hardiness and vigor allow it. It looks best when planted individually near the house, so you can fully enjoy its abundance. It will make a good impression in a shrub border, a flowering hedge, or emerging from a mass of perennials. Create a bunched border with Nepeta, Salvia sclarea or jamensis, Aster laevis. In autumn, it pairs well with Cotinus and deciduous Euonymus, equally colourful. In a large pot on the terrace, it puts on a show while summer blooms fade. We have imagined a simple plant tapestry as a ground cover to highlight the 'Summer Snow' Lilac. Weaving thyme, oregano, and silver baskets will dress the base of its trunk, emphasise the beauty of its bark, and reflect its beautiful flowering.

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. We would like to point out that this tree produces fruits with narcotic properties if ingested.