Fantasy Red Crape Myrtles at JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh.

I thought you'd enjoy that Nebari.

The sideways ones give me a crick in the neck, but yes, I do enjoy those bases. I like the bark patterns, too. Do you know the cultivar name?

The colours are amazing.

Do Lagerstroemias grow so much?!?!?!
Amazing!!!

I dont know the cultivar name actually. I can find out. I'm hoping to take some cuttings in the spring. These are the largest and oldest "fantasy red" crape myrtles growing outside of Japan. According to the arboretum anyway. The bark is amazing. These pictures were taken with a camera phone and they don't do it justice. here's another picture i found.

[b]

This is actually Lagerstroemia fauriei 'Fantasy'. It's different from the old fashioned L. indicas that are planted throughout the South. The species fauriei is much larger and faster growing than the indicas and produces small clumps of white flowers, but tons of them. They were actually crossed with the indicas by the USDA to produce hybrids like 'Natchez', and others named after Native American tribes. 'Natchez' looks much more like its fauriei parent.

'Fantasy' is the name of this particular selection of L. fauriei. Largest in the US? There are some very old ones on the campus of Mississippi State University, as well as the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. There are some really big ones here in Mobile too, but I've never compared them to anything.

Russell

Russell Coker wrote: Largest in the US? There are some very old ones on the campus of Mississippi State University, as well as the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. There are some really big ones here in Mobile too, but I've never compared them to anything.

Russell

I was wondering about that myself. According to the NCSU website these were planted in the 1950's from seed. I can't wait to go get cuttings. They encourage people to come and get cuttings of any plant they have. These are really impressive in person. They're beautiful trees.

Happy Holidays
Sam

Sam,

If you look around you may find some seedlings in the beds nearby, if they aren't mulched too heavily. They should also have plenty of seed capsules on them now - if you can reach them.

R