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Plant a crape myrtle in a sunny, well-drained spot, set it no deeper than it grew in its nursery container, and keep the root flare level with the surrounding soil. Choose the planting season for your region and plant type; there is no single calendar date that suits every climate.
Choose a suitable plant and planting site
Match the cultivar to the available space
Crape myrtle cultivars range from under 3 feet to more than 20 feet tall, according to UGA Cooperative Extension’s Crape Myrtle Culture. Check a named cultivar’s mature height and spread, then allow enough room for its full size rather than planning to control it with heavy pruning. Newer cultivars may also offer differences in flower or fall color, bark, cold tolerance, and disease resistance. For disease prevention, UGA recommends choosing disease-resistant cultivars.
Prioritize sun and drainage
Choose a position with full sun and well-drained soil. Maryland Extension defines full sun for this purpose as six to eight or more hours of direct summer sunlight. Crape myrtle roots do not tolerate wet soil, according to Mississippi State University Extension. If heavy clay is unavoidable, Mississippi State advises raising the planting site rather than leaving the roots in persistently wet ground. Leave adequate clearance from buildings, paths, and other plants for the cultivar’s mature spread.
When to plant a crape myrtle
Planting time depends on local climate and whether the plant is container-grown or bare-root. Mississippi State recommends fall or early spring planting so roots can establish before summer heat, and planting bare-root crape myrtles during winter dormancy. Treat this as regional guidance, not a universal date: check your local Extension service for a planting window and cultivars suited to your area, especially in colder or unusually wet climates.
#1 Best Overall
- VIBRANT SUMMER BLOOMS – Explodes with stunning, long-lasting flower clusters from mid-summer through fall, adding a massive burst of color to your yard or garden when other plants stop blooming.
- READY-TO-PLANT POT – Arrives established in a grower's pot, measuring 8 to 16 inches tall from the bottom of the pot; perfect as a starter plant for patio containers, hedges, or standalone yard focal points.
- FAST-GROWING & HARDY – Highly resilient, drought-tolerant once established, and adaptable to various soil types; thrives best in full sun and naturally resists pests and common plant diseases.
- YEAR-ROUND VISUAL INTEREST – Offers beauty in every season, featuring lush green summer foliage, brilliant orange-red autumn leaves, and a unique, smooth exfoliating bark pattern throughout the winter.
- GROWN WITH CARE – Hand-selected, healthy live plants packaged securely in specialized shipping boxes to ensure your deciduous flowering shrub arrives fresh, intact, and ready to thrive.
How to plant it, step by step
- Prepare the plant and find the root flare. Before deciding how deep to dig, identify where the trunk widens and transitions into the roots. That root flare—not the top of a pot’s soil—is the best guide to the finished soil level.
- Dig a wide hole, not an unnecessarily deep one. Make the hole at least twice as wide as the root ball, following UGA Cooperative Extension. Keep the bottom firm enough to limit settling. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s planting guidance also places a plant at the same depth or slightly higher than it sat in its pot, or even with the top of the root ball: USDA NRCS Tree Planting Guide.
- Check container-grown roots. Retail plants can be root-bound. Inspect the root ball and loosen roots so they can grow into the surrounding soil; redirect circling roots where needed. Maryland Extension also advises checking a plant before purchase for crape myrtle bark scale—small white objects that may appear on stems, especially at branch crotches, trunk furrows, and beneath loose bark. See Maryland Extension’s crape myrtle guidance.
- Set the plant at the right height. Position it so the root flare is level with the surrounding soil and the plant is no deeper than it originally grew. UGA’s instruction is: “Set the plant in the hole no deeper than it originally grew in the container or field.” If the root ball top and visible root flare do not align, use the flare and the original growing depth to avoid burying the trunk.
- Backfill with the soil you removed. Break up clods and remove debris, then return the excavated soil around the roots. UGA says organic matter is not necessary in an individual planting hole: an enriched pocket can encourage roots to stay within it rather than spread into the surrounding soil. If the broader site needs improvement, incorporate organic matter uniformly across the area instead of creating a small amended hole. Do not add fertilizer by default; UGA warns that excess nitrogen can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowering.
- Water thoroughly. Water after planting to settle soil around the roots. Then monitor moisture as the plant establishes, accounting for rainfall, drainage, season, and plant size.
- Mulch without covering the trunk. Mulch helps conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but guidance differs on depth. UGA describes 3 to 5 inches over the planting hole, while Maryland Extension recommends no more than 2 to 3 inches and keeping mulch several inches from the trunk. Follow local guidance and leave a clear gap around the trunk and stems; do not mound mulch against the plant.
Watering while the roots establish
UGA’s starting recommendation is to water thoroughly at planting and once a week without rain for the first two months. Maryland Extension advises checking several inches down and watering deeply when the soil begins to dry. Use these as guides rather than a fixed schedule: rainfall, soil drainage, season, and plant size all affect how quickly the root zone dries. Check the soil and water deeply when needed instead of keeping it continually wet.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- MATURE SIZE: Compact dwarf variety that grows to be 8-10 feet tall and wide, perfect for small gardens and landscapes
- FLOWERING: Features stunning dark watermelon red blooms that contrast beautifully with dark green foliage, blooming from summer into fall
- GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS: Very fast-growing shrub that quickly establishes to create a thick, bushy presence in the garden, ideal for privacy hedges
- SEASONAL INTEREST: Displays spectacular fall foliage in shades of red, orange, and yellow, complemented by attractive beige and white exfoliating bark
- GROWING REQUIREMENTS: Thrives in USDA zones 6-10, requires full sun exposure (6+ hours daily) for optimal blooming, adaptable to various soil types
Rank #4
- Thrives in USDA zones 6-10
- Grows to mature size 96 inches W x 72-144 inches H
- Full sun to partial shade
- Deciduous – Foliage loss in winter and new growth in spring
- Botanical Name – Center Stage Pink Crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica
Rank #3
- Extended Blooming Period: Features vibrant red blooms that continue flowering throughout the entire summer season
- Regional Suitability: Beautiful Flowering Trees specifically suited for Southern States climate and growing conditions
- Distinctive Features: Red Blooms that mature to 20+ feet tall, with unique exfoliating bark that provides year-long visual splendor
- Plant Size and Container: All Crape Myrtle Guy plants are grown in quart containers and measure 1-2 feet tall depending on variety
- Seasonal Appearance: Plants shipped in winter will be dormant and without leaves, resuming growth in spring
Rank #2
- MATURE SIZE: Grows to an impressive height of 20+ feet tall and spreads 15+ feet wide, making it an excellent shade tree with upright growth pattern.
- FLOWERING SEASON: Produces large, showy sunset purple/pink blooms from early summer through fall, creating a stunning display for months.
- PLANTING SPECIFICATIONS: Ships as a well-rooted 2-4 foot tall plant in 1.15-quart pot with soil, perfect for zones 6-10.
- CARE REQUIREMENTS: Thrives in full sun with 6+ hours daily exposure, adapts to all soil types, and needs moderate watering until established.
- SEASONAL FEATURES: Displays vibrant red and orange fall foliage, complemented by attractive beige and gray exfoliating bark for year-round interest.
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