Natchez is the white crepe myrtle worth knowing by name. It flowers in enormous white panicles right through an Australian summer, colours orange-red in autumn, then drops its leaves to reveal cinnamon-coloured bark that peels in sheets - which is arguably the best thing about it. It is also mildew resistant, which most older crepe myrtles are not, and that single difference decides whether a tree looks clean or grey and dusty by February.
Quick facts
| Detail | What to expect in Australia |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' |
| Mature size | 6-8 m tall, 4-5 m wide |
| Flowers | Large white panicles, summer into autumn |
| Autumn colour | Orange to red |
| Bark | Cinnamon, peeling - a winter feature |
| Position | Full sun. Essential for flowering |
| Water | Drought tolerant once established |
| Mildew | Resistant |
| Best climates | Every Australian capital |
Four seasons of interest
Very few trees earn their space year-round, and crepe myrtle is one of them.
- Spring - fresh bronze-green new growth after a bare winter.
- Summer - months of large white flower panicles, from December well into autumn.
- Autumn - foliage turns orange and red before dropping.
- Winter - smooth mottled cinnamon bark that peels in sheets, on a sculptural multi-stemmed frame.
Because it is deciduous it also lets winter sun through, which makes it one of the better trees to plant on the northern or western side of an Australian house.
Why mildew resistance matters
Powdery mildew coats crepe myrtle leaves and flower buds in a grey-white film, and in humid Australian summers it can ruin the display entirely. Older cultivars are highly susceptible; Natchez and the other Native American-named hybrids were bred for resistance and stay noticeably cleaner.
In Brisbane, Sydney and coastal Queensland this is not a minor point. If you are choosing between a cheap unnamed crepe myrtle and a named resistant cultivar, the named one is worth the difference.
How Natchez compares
| Variety | Height | Flower | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natchez | 6-8 m | White | Large gardens, avenues, shade |
| Acoma | 3-4 m | White, semi-weeping | Smaller gardens wanting white |
| Tuscarora | 5-6 m | Coral pink | Strong colour at medium size |
| Zuni | 3-4 m | Lavender pink | Compact suburban gardens |
| Diamonds in the Dark range | 3 m | Various, dark foliage | Small gardens, near-black leaves |
Natchez is the one to plant where there is room for a six to eight metre tree. In a courtyard or small backyard, Acoma gives the same white flowers at half the size with a graceful semi-weeping habit. The Diamonds in the Dark range stays around three metres with dramatic near-black foliage.
Where it grows in Australia
Crepe myrtle is one of the few genuinely nationwide trees. It flowers well in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra, handles frost when established, tolerates heat and drought, and copes with both humid subtropical and dry Mediterranean summers.
- Brisbane and subtropical Queensland - excellent, though mildew resistance matters most here.
- Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra - outstanding, with the best autumn colour in the cooler cities.
- Perth - very well suited to the dry summers.
- Tropical north - grows, but flowering and autumn colour are less reliable without a cool season.
How to plant
- Plant in autumn or winter while dormant, or in spring.
- Full sun. Six hours minimum - shaded plants barely flower and are more prone to mildew.
- Dig wide, not deep - two to three times the root ball width at the same depth.
- Allow four to five metres of width for Natchez.
- Ensure drainage. It is drought tolerant but dislikes waterlogged soil.
- Water deeply through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells.
Roots are relatively well behaved, which is why crepe myrtle is used so widely as a street tree, but still allow two to three metres from paving and pipes.
Pruning: do less than you think
Crepe myrtle flowers on new growth, so a light prune in late winter encourages flowering. That is all that is needed.
What it does not need is the practice of cutting every branch back to the same stubs each year. This produces a knobbly disfigured framework, weak whippy growth and heavy flower heads that flop, and it destroys the beautiful bark and branch structure that is half the reason to plant the tree.
Remove dead, crossing and inward-growing branches, thin congested growth to open the canopy, and shorten the previous season's growth lightly. Leave the framework alone.
Common problems and fixes
- Grey-white film on leaves is powdery mildew. Improve airflow and sun exposure; resistant cultivars like Natchez are far less affected.
- Few flowers usually means too much shade or too much nitrogen fertiliser.
- Sticky leaves with sooty mould follows aphids or scale. Treat with horticultural oil.
- Weak floppy growth with heavy heads is the result of hard annual stub pruning. Stop, and let the framework rebuild.
- No autumn colour is usually a warm climate rather than a fault - colour is strongest where autumns are cool.
- Suckers from the base are normal on multi-stemmed plants. Remove them to keep a clean trunk.
Frequently asked questions
How big does a Natchez crepe myrtle get?
Six to eight metres tall and four to five metres wide, making it one of the larger crepe myrtles. For smaller gardens, Acoma reaches three to four metres with the same white flowers, and the Diamonds in the Dark range stays around three metres.
When does crepe myrtle flower in Australia?
Through summer, typically from December into autumn, with the display lasting many weeks. It flowers on new growth, which is why a light late-winter prune helps.
Should I prune crepe myrtle hard each year?
No. Cutting every branch back to the same stubs annually produces a disfigured framework, weak growth and flopping flower heads, and destroys the sculptural bark that is one of the tree's best features. Prune lightly in late winter and thin congested growth.
What causes the white powder on the leaves?
Powdery mildew, common in humid Australian summers. Improve airflow and sunlight, and choose a resistant cultivar such as Natchez, which stays considerably cleaner than older varieties.
Do crepe myrtles have invasive roots?
No, they are well behaved compared with figs, poplars and willows, which is why they are widely used as street trees. Allow two to three metres from paving and pipes as normal practice.
Will crepe myrtle grow in Melbourne or Perth?
Yes to both. Crepe myrtle is one of the few trees that performs across every Australian capital, handling frost once established and tolerating heat and drought. Autumn colour is strongest in the cooler cities.
Ready to plant?
We grow the full crepe myrtle range in advanced and ex-ground sizes. Browse our deciduous trees collection, or top flowering trees in Australia.
Related reading: the best canopy trees for shade and ornamental pear varieties compared.
