The crape myrtle, Lagerstromia indica, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to temperate and subtropical regions. It has oblong leaves and the fruit is berrylike. When it blooms in late summer, the flowers are usually white to purple. The crape myrtle will grow up to 20 feet tall. Its bark is smooth and brown. For areas that don't have severe winters, the crape myrtle is a great choice for late summer color.

Planted as borders, they provide colorful privacy. Planted near the foundation, they add a distinctive flare.

This home was built the winter before this photo was taken. As you can see, although not dismal, there is much to be desired with the landscaping. Particularly on the left side of the house.

When considering ways to improve the view, all I had to do was look around. Noticing the splendid specimens of crape myrtle in neighboring yards, made the decision clear. The addition of a few shrubs and crape myrtle accents would greatly improve this landscaping.

I wanted to see what the final look would be. Being impatient and not having time to wait for one to grow, nor money to buy a large planting, I decided to steal a neighbors. No, I didn't dig it up, but I took pictures of it. Then through the magic of Adobe's Photoshop, I "planted" it in front of the house.

As you can see, the effect was nice. While I was at it, I added a few shrubs around the power transformer and along the side. The addition of the crape myrtles gave the view of the front of the house a more finished and mature look. Next step: buy some for fall planting and hope they don't die.

The crape myrtle is a common sight all across the south. Its distinctive late summer color comes during the stifling hot August days. It is like a reminder of cooler spring days past and heralds the cool fall days to come. Its colorful blooms add bold and vivid color to the landscape. The crape myrtle is a solid choice as a colorful late summer plant.