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Botanical name: Lagerstroemia indica ‘Orchid Cascade’
This cascading dwarf crapemyrtle produces orchid lavender blooms on arching branches; dark green, contrasting foliage turns yellow in fall; a captivating focal point for smaller spaces; also great for container planting.
Other names: Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle
| Hardiness zone | 6a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | lavender |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | arching |
| Mature height | 3 feet |
| Spread | 4 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to partial shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Orchid Cascade Crapemyrtle is covered in stunning panicles of lavender frilly flowers with pink overtones at the ends of the branches from early to late summer. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The glossy oval leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Orchid Cascade Crapemyrtle is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Orchid Cascade Crapemyrtle is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, General Garden Use, Groundcover, Container Planting
Orchid Cascade Crapemyrtle will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaves in alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Orchid Cascade Crapemyrtle makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
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