Lagerstroemia indica Worlds Fair - Crape Myrtle

Invite the Lagestroemia indica World’s Fair, also known as the Indian Lilac and Summer Lilac, into your garden! This adorable deciduous shrub is ultra-resistant and will charm you with its compact habit and, above all, its breathtaking raspberry pink summer flowering.

The Indian Lilac World’s Fair belongs to the Lythraceae family. Contrary to what its name suggests, it is not native to India but to China and Japan. It resembles a bonsai with its dimensions not exceeding two metres in height at maturity, its rounded silhouette, and its branches that arch like a parasol pine.

The Summer Lilac World’s Fair will be a charming key plant in your garden or on your terrace (as a solitary plant, in a bed, or in a pot), rewarding you with a daily spectacle.

From spring, this shrub is adorned with leathery, oval, dark green leaves measuring 8 cm (3.1 in) long, which turn bronze in autumn. At the end of summer, when few trees are in bloom, it transforms into a sublime and intense bouquet made up of pyramid-shaped flower heads called thyrses, as delicate as crepe paper. Finally, in winter, it reveals a smooth bark marbled in grey, cinnamon, and light pink, peeling off in flakes.

A beautiful way to display the Summer Lilac World's Fair would be to create a tapestry of plants in three colours, resembling the Indian tricolour. Using a ground cover to enhance the beauty of the display, you could combine thyme, oregano, and silver baskets to adorn the base of the tree trunk, highlighting its bark and complementing its sparkling flowers.

It is recommended to plant this shrub in the springtime, when there is no risk of frost. Choose a sunny and sheltered location and plant it in a rich, moist, and well-drained soil, avoiding chalky soil if possible. To ensure proper growth, it is best to add compost and a thick layer of dead leaves, especially during the first two winters in cold regions.

To ensure proper growth and balance, it is essential to prune the flowering branches of this tree very short in February-March. Leave only 4 to 6 buds and remove weak twigs and poorly positioned branches if necessary. It's worth noting that Karl Von Linné named this tree after his friend Magnus Von Lagestroem (1696 – 1759), who had sent it to him from India for identification. Originally used to decorate Chinese temples, this tree produces fruits that have a narcotic effect if ingested.