Sioux Crepe Myrtle

Sioux Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Sioux') is a small flowering tree for gardens that cannot spare room for something bigger. It reaches about 5m tall and 3m wide, carries vivid pink flower heads through the heat of summer, then colours red before dropping its leaves. Bred for mildew resistance, it stays clean in humid weather where older crepe myrtles grey over.

Why you'll love it

• Colour when the garden needs it. Flowering runs through summer, long after most trees have finished, and each head holds for weeks.
• Built for heat and dry spells. Once established it is drought and heat tolerant, which matters through a long inland summer.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Non invasive roots mean it can sit near paths, driveways and services without lifting them.
• Interest after the flowers. Red autumn foliage, then smooth mottled bark on bare branches all winter.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One tree in a lawn or front garden reads well from the street, and at 3m wide it will not swallow a suburban block.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 3m to 4m apart for an even run. Canopies meet without crowding and the trunks stay clear of vehicles.

Small gardens and large pots. Growth is steady rather than rapid, so it holds in a 600mm pot for years and suits narrow beds against a wall.

Growing Sioux Crepe Myrtle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun all day. Shade cuts flowering hard and invites leaf spot. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and is frost hardy once established, so cold southern districts are no barrier. Wet tropical gardens stay too humid for reliable flowering.

Soil. Any free draining soil will do. On heavy clay, raise the bed by about 200mm and work compost through it. Mulch 75mm deep and keep it off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, after which watering can taper right off. One feed of complete fertiliser in early spring is enough; heavy nitrogen buys leaves instead of flowers.

Pruning. Prune in late winter while the tree is bare. Remove crossing branches and shorten the previous season's growth by about a third, because flowers form on new wood. Never cut the main limbs back to stubs, which spoils the shape for years.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in two sizes. The 400mm pot is a young tree with its trunk already forming, and it is the sensible choice for most gardens. The 100L is an advanced tree with a developed head, for presence on day one.

Deciduous, so a winter delivery arrives as bare branches with plump buds. That is normal, not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect flowers in the first summer after planting and mature size in about ten years. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Crepe myrtle care guide for Australian gardens
• Compare every crepe myrtle variety we grow
• Why crepe myrtles go bare in winter
• Browse small trees for urban gardens

Common questions

How wide will it get?

About 3m across at maturity, on a trunk that clears at head height. Allow 2m from a wall or fence so the canopy can develop evenly.

Will it flower in a pot?

Yes, in a 600mm or larger container with free draining mix and full sun. Potted trees stay smaller and need summer watering, but they flower on the same schedule.

Is it safe around pets?

Yes. Crepe myrtle is not toxic to cats or dogs, and the flowers bring bees and butterflies into the garden.