Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Crapemyrtle

Family: Lythraceae (Loosestrife family)

Distribution: Asia

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Hardiness: 7a

Life form: Tree

Comments: Introduced by Oklahoma State University, this deciduous tree has several qualities that give it year-round interest. Leaves are dark-green in the summer, fading to a red-orange in the fall. Large long-lasting rose-red flowers give way to small fruits that hang on during winter. As the tree begins to age, its grey bark begins to exfoliate in thin strips, revealing a smooth cream-colored bark underneath.